Provincial politicians are no longer allowed to sit around and decide their own salary increases. That's a good thing.

It's obviously a conflict of interest for them to do so. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) believes it's also a conflict of interest for politicians to sit around and figure out how many tax dollars should flow to their own political parties.

After all, the sole objective of a political party is to help politicians keep their jobs. Bill 37, which was passed this past Tuesday, did just that.

Under Bill 37, political parties in Manitoba receive $5 for each vote earned in the 2007 election. While some will suggest the political party welfare scheme is appropriate as the federal government has a similar system, the facts suggest otherwise.

The CTF contacted Ottawa to find out what their conflict of interest commissioner determined prior to their funding scheme's passage in 2003. As it turns out, Ottawa could not provide the CTF with any evidence that a "conflict of interest" examination took place. Further, Ottawa noted that its first independent ethics commissioner was established in 2004, after the legislation passed.

So much for the claim "Ottawa does it so it must be OK." That's why the CTF asked Manitoba's conflict of interest commissioner to review the matter. Aside from the obvious conflict of asking MLAs to decide how much support their parties should receive, the CTF pointed out that independent candidates will not receive a dime from the new policy.

Further, as the funding scheme is calculated on votes received in the 2007 election, it's like placing a bet today on last year's Grey Cup game.

Unfortunately for taxpayers, the Manitoba Legislature passed Bill 37 without waiting for Manitoba's Conflict on Interest Commissioner to provide an opinion on the matter. Obviously, this begs the question -- if taxpayers have to pay for a conflict of interest commissioner and his staff support, then why isn't the government using his services?

Fortunately, the Progressive Conservative Party not only voted against the funding, they practised what they preached and announced they will refuse to accept the handout. That means approximately $800,000 can now be used for tax relief, fixing our roads or other services Manitobans expect from their government.

Despite all this, the government continues to put forward the myth that political parties "need" the financial support as the government banned corporate and union donations to political parties.

The reality is, they were banned, but that took effect in 2001. Somehow, each political party miraculously ran a grandiose campaign in the 2003 election and again in 2007. Does anyone remember seeing homemade political lawn signs or leaders hitchhiking from event to event?

Perhaps most insulting about the new political party welfare scheme is the timing. While businesses and households in Manitoba are watching their pennies and are concerned about the economy, some provincial politicians are more concerned with filling their own party's bank account.

On this issue, the only "cents" these politicians need right now is common sense.