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Nova Scotia has a new premier, but who's buying?

Campaign finance doesn't get the attention that it deserves. A cynical person might suspect that there was a reason we didn't talk about this sort of thing. Or to use the old analogy, it might be like making sausages. In any case, the Nova Scotia Tory party leadership convention last weekend in Halifax has brought this back to the fore in these parts. I have nothing bad to say about Rodney MacDonald, but the fact is we have a new premier and we don't have any idea who bankrolled him. Frankly, that bothers me.

And this bothers me even more:

While each camp was not allowed to spend more than $250,000, there was no ceiling on how much they could raise in donations. If a candidate has a surplus after all expenses are paid, the money is to be turned over to the party.

This bothers me, too:

The (candidates financial) statements will be publicly released March 31, said campaign co-chairman Rob Batherson.

Ultimatetly, there is some accountability, well, at least some tallying, but wouldn't the electorate be better served by releasing the details before the candidates vote? Or would that unfairly bias the delegates decisions?

Or would that fairly bias the candidates decisions?