Flanagan is right about this, what a refreshing change from all the hysteria and mock outrage.  Personally I would prefer to go back to the public funding of political parties and avoid all this nonsense, which only breeds cynicism. That being said, once you eliminate public funding and union and corporate donations, and set a maximum personal donation of $1,500 the political parties are left to hold fundraisers. I have been invited by "personal invitation" to attend fundraisers by both the Liberals and the NDP where Justin or Tom Mulcair would be present. That's the whole point of going (although I declined both).  Of course the speeches will be about the government's or party's policies and plans for the future, and what people talk about when they rub shoulders during the cocktail is what interests them. But does anyone think the government can be bought for $1,500? No reasonable person would believe that. If so, lower the limit to $1,000 or $500, or bring back public subsidies.