Say it ain't so, Joe

As a Liberal sympathizer (I even vote for them occasionally), I find their affinity for sleaze depressing. Jean Chretien brings in excellent legislation to limit political contributions from corporations, one of the kindest favours our democracy has received in decades, and guess who is first to try slipping through a loophole. Why, a Liberal, of course. The friends-of-Apotex bunch had 11-year old kids making $5,400 donations to Joe Volpe's leadership campaign. Five current and former executives of Apotex Inc. and 15 members of their families contributed $108,000 total in identical amounts.

The Volpe campaign has now issued instructions to return the donations if they violate the spirit of the Canada Elections Act, but only after the national campaign co-ordinator had earlier said nothing was wrong with them. Why, oh why, does it always seem to be Liberals who get caught with their financial pants down? Maybe they lack the ideological fervour that drives generosity in the other parties, or maybe they're just having a run of bad luck, but this is not a good start to the leadership race.

Whoever wins is going to have to wield a wicked ethical whip before the party embarrasses itself into oblivion.