Municipal Affairs Minister Selina Robinson introduced legislation Monday that promises to ban corporate and union donations to civic election campaigns and cap individual donations to a candidate or political party at $1,200.
The legislation, which also calls for a ban on out-of-province donations and funding from third-party advertisers, covers campaigns for councillors, mayors, school trustees, park board commissioners and electoral area directors. Once passed, the changes will be retroactive to Oct. 31, 2017.
“Right now, there are no limits to how much money people or organizations can donate to candidates or elector organizations in local elections,” Robinson said at news conference in Victoria. “Corporations, unions and people or groups based out of B.C. can all donate as much as they want to influence local elections. It’s been a wild west in political fundraising here, and people want change. Deep pockets shouldn’t decide elections, people should.”
Robinson’s announcement was welcomed by Vision Vancouver Coun. Andrea Reimer, who has been council’s go-to person for more than a decade in fighting to get the big money out of local campaigns. Reimer sent Robinson a letter in September requesting to have new rules in place before the new year when campaigns begin.
In a text message to the Courier, Reimer said she started working on pressuring the sitting provincial government in 2003 to create new rules for civic campaigns.
“It’s been a long battle, and at times felt like the tasks of Hercules, but we made it,” she said. “It’s not perfect, but no giant leap forward ever is. Getting big money out is better than what we’ve got. These changes should be celebrated.”
For several election cycles in Vancouver, multi-million dollar campaigns have become the norm. Reimer’s Vision party and the NPA have led all parties in fundraising and spending in the past decade. But both parties have opposed suggestions to voluntarily not accept money from developers or unions, saying it was up to the provincial government to create the rules.
Over the years, parties have received hundreds of thousands of dollars from developers and unions, with both groups doing regular business at city hall. The Courier revealed during the 2008 election campaign that councillors were guests of developers in private boxes at Rogers Arena to watch the Vancouver Canucks and rock concerts.
Free tickets to Cirque de Soleil, dinner aboard a yacht and harbour tours during the summer fireworks display were also funded by developers and attended by councillors. One year, developer Robert Macdonald donated more than $900,000 to the NPA.
“These amendments will strengthen local democracy in our province,” Robinson said. “It’s better for candidates, it’s better for voters. Quite simply, it’s better for B.C.”
