It’s taken long enough for Wilkinson’ Liberals to acknowledge this ... perhaps now is the time for he and Bolin to sit down and discuss what electoral financing reform should look like

With CBC News reporting a poll from Mario Canseco of Research Company now showing the BC Liberal Party sitting at 30% support across the province, a 10% drop from the 2017 election, leader Andrew Wilkinson introduced legislation on Tuesday (May 28^th) today that would ban foreign interference in British Columbia politics.

In doing so, he stated, “The serious issue of foreign money and influence in elections has been making headlines for years now and many countries have taken action. It’s time for B.C. to firmly protect the integrity of our elections.”

The only problem is that BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkson is ‘late to the party’ to quote an old saying.

LONG before other political parties had decided to make electoral financing an issue of concern, BC Conservatives had already put policy in place that as government they would ... enact legislation relating to political contributions to registered British Columbia political parties, limiting such donations to those received only from individuals and banning donations from corporations, unions and all other similar entities.

And so, it definitely seems like Conservatives were driving the boat on that one.

Now, getting back to Wilkinson’s bill announced earlier this week; it would prohibit contributions from any foreign person, government, or political organization for any purpose related to an election. Foreign-funded individuals and organizations would also be prohibited from making false or misleading communications for any purpose related to an election in B.C.

Trevor Bolin, BC Conservative Party leader, stated, “It definitely feels like the BC Liberals are late on this one as well”.

“At our Annual General Meeting last year, our grassroots membership brought forward policy confirming that ... no political party, candidate, or third-party- advertiser shall receive funding or other types of financial or material support for their election campaign from a foreign entity”.  

Bolin continued, “Our policies for democratic reform and government accountability are reaching British Columbians.  While Canseco’s poll is showing our Party at 9% across the province, we are well into the mid to late teens percentage wise in the interior of BC ... and the North”.

"In fact", Bolin stated, "Results of a poll of over 8,200 their readers, taken by Castanet, showed Liberals in the Okanagan / southern interior at just over 41% support, while the BC Conservatives were just 10 points back at just over 31%”

Regarding those supporting the BC Conservatives in the CBC story; Bolin was welcoming of the current voter intentions, and Canseco’s comment that; “... the increased support for the B.C. Conservatives is likely the result of centre right voters looking for an alternative to the Liberals.”

“The Liberals, both in government and as the official opposition, have not led the way when it comes to government that people can respect and trust”, 

observed Conservative Leader Trevor Bolin. 

“Our policies, such as we already have in place on election financing and foreign interference, ARE going to attract not only centre right British Columbians, but also those just looking for government that is not out for itself ... or those funding them with big campaign cheques”, Bolin continued.

The Liberals Wilkinson is NOW stating that .... it’s time to take back control and guarantee that political power remains in the hands of British Columbians.

Furthermore, he went on to say, “This is beyond partisan politics, and I am confident that all parties in the Legislature will support this important measure to protect our democracy and keeping British Columbians in charge of their own elections.”

It’s taken long enough for them to acknowledge this ... perhaps now is the time for he and Bolin to sit down and discuss what electoral financing reform should look like, and perhaps come out with joint legislation to be put before the BC Legislature.

Now that would be ‘non-partisanship’ indeed.