It took a story in a U.S. newspaper on the other side of the continent to lead Christy Clark to dismantling the pay top-up system for the premier.
Clark said last week that she’s no longer receiving a $50,000 stipend from the B.C. Liberal party, instead, asking for expenses to be reimbursed.
The announcement followed a Jan. 13 article in the New York Times, delving into B.C. election financing titled “B.C.: The Wild West of Canadian Political Cash.”
In Maple Ridge-Mission, NDP candidate Bob D’Eith said having the New York Times write about the issue shows there’s a problem.
“We’re sort of an odd anomaly that hasn’t changed with the times,” said D’Eith.
“It’s so blatantly disrespectful to democracy that the New York Times has written about it. Obviously, there’s a problem. Do people care? They really should care.
“I hope people understand when we get in, we’re getting rid of corporate donations and union donations. “That’s the way we should be moving. Nobody wants a government that’s beholden to special interests or corporate agendas.”
D’Eith, who’s due to be formally acclaimed as NDP candidate Jan. 28, (1 p.m., Silverdale Hall), will be campaigning against two-term incumbent Liberal MLA Marc Dalton in the campaign leading up to the May 9 provincial election.
Dalton challenges the criticism.
“I think as far as campaign financing, and just for accountability, that B.C. really leads the way as far as open government,” Dalton said, pointing out the recent announcement that donations to the Liberal party will be published within 10 days of receiving them.
“So people will know before the election … who’s supporting the party.”
B.C. also has MLA recall legislation. Dalton’s twice been the focus of recall campaigns, though they weren’t successful.
On Saturday, the MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission spent five hours knocking on doors.
“Great response! I’m sure there was NDP support in area but no one told me so. Happy w Econ #TeamBC2017,” he Tweeted.
Dalton said that the New York Times isn’t the final authority.
“They have their perspective and that’s fine.”
While people can contribute as many dollars as they want to B.C. political parties, there are spending limits during a provincial election, he pointed out.
In Maple Ridge-Mission, candidates can only spend about $80,000 during a campaign.
“It’s very strict,” Dalton added.
He added that the NDP has said it will end union and corporate donations, but the former often campaign against the B.C. Liberals.
“That was my experience at the B.C. Teachers Federation when I was a union rep.”
He resigned from that position in 2005 because he disagreed with the BCTF supporting the NDP.
It’s fine for unions to be involved in political activity, but when it becomes an anti-Liberal campaign, “Who are you fooling?
“The B.C. NDP can say, ‘We’re going to ban union payments.’ But the fact of the matter, these unions do run their own campaigns,” Dalton said.
The NDP is also approaching the same companies who donated to the Liberals.
“They’re receiving benefits from both sides.”
Dalton said that with a healthy economy, there is now more money for social services, health care and education.
There have been increased spending in health and education, he said.
Health care spending was growing six to eight per cent a year, which wasn’t sustainable, Dalton added.
Now, health-care spending is increasing about 2.5 per cent a year, he said.
Dalton said he hasn’t heard much from constituents about campaign contributions.
D’Eith said his party has tried several times to ban corporate and union contributions.
“Generally, the Liberal party is backed by large corporations.”
D’Eith, who ran for the NDP in the 2015 federal election, said that under federal campaign finance rules, there’s a maximum of $1,500 contribution, individual contributions only.
He said people do care about the issue.
For now, the NDP is accepting corporate donations.
“It would be impossible to go up against the Liberals and win, with their massive war chest and the fact they’ve got so much money from corporations.”
D’Eith said he hopes people remember how the B.C. Liberal government ripped up the agreement on class sizes with teachers, then fought it in the courts for years.
He’s got five kids in the school system and wonders how the government’s efforts affected his own children’s education.
“Just as a citizen, I feel like Christy Clark has affected my kids’ ability to be successful. I hope a lot of people will feel that way.”