Fisheries Minister's Donations:
A Conflict of Interest?
Halifax- Alan Hill, NDP candidate in Halifax West, believes that Geoff Regan should not have accepted donations from companies involved in the fisheries during the 2004 election campaign."Mr. Regan received over $4000 in donations from companies in the fishing industry in the 2004 election", said Hill, "He should have recognized that as Minister of Fisheries it was inappropriate to accept these donations."
In the 2004 election Mr. Regan received $1000 donations from Clearwater Fine Foods Inc and Labrador Sea Products. He also received $500 donations from Acadian Seaplants, D'Eon Fisheries, Davis Strait Fisheries and Secundra Marine Services. Innovation Marine Structures donated $400 to his campaign.
"While I certainly wouldn't insinuate that these companies were trying to buy access to Mr. Regan, there is the appearance of conflict", said Hill, "Therefore he should have returned the donations".
"It is also interesting to note that in the 2004 campaign, Mr. Regan collected double the donations that he received in the 2000 campaign when he wasn't a Cabinet Minister", said Hill, "Given the kind of money Cabinet ministers are able to raise, it is very difficult for other candidates to compete."
In the 2000 election, Mr. Regan collected $45, 092 in donations. In 2004 this figured doubled to $90, 560.56.
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