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NDP MINISTER RAVI KAHLON QUESTIONED OVER POTENTIAL FAMILY-RELATED LOBBYING AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN $50 MILLION HOUSING GRANT REQUEST


Harman Bhangu, MLA for Langley-Abbotsford and Official Conservative Opposition Critic for Transportation, questioned BC NDP Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon over concerning connections surrounding a $50 million grant request involving close associates and family ties of the Minister.

During yesterday’s legislative Housing Estimates debate, MLA Harman Bhangu pressed Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon regarding a substantial $50 million grant funding request submitted by the Vancity Community Foundation, a lobbying client of Nicola Hill, Principal of Nicola Hill Strategies, who specifically registered to lobby Minister Kahlon’s Ministry of Housing to arrange meetings with senior Ministry officials regarding the $50 million grant funding request. These meetings have already taken place.

Significantly, Nicola Hill Strategies is listed prominently as a "collaborative partner" on the website of Core Firm, a lobbying and government relations firm co-founded by Minister Kahlon's sister, Parm Kahlon. Furthermore, Nicola Hill is directly listed as part of the "Our Team" section on the Core Firm website, raising clear concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest.

MLA Harman Bhangu’s tough questions sought clarification from Minister Kahlon on:

•    “Is the Minister aware of the $50 million grant funding request made by the Vancity Community Foundation to his Ministry on November 29th, 2024?”

•    “Is the Minister aware that his Chief of Staff met with Vancity about the funding request, on December 13th, 2024?”

•    “Is the Minister aware that Nicola Hill, Principal of Nicola Hill Strategies registered to lobby the Ministry of Housing on behalf of Vancity?”

•    “Is the Minister aware that his sister’s government relations and lobbying firm claims to work with Nicola Hill and lists Nicola Hill as a “collaborative partner” on the lobbying company’s website, in the section titled “Our Team”?”

•    “After your sister Parm Kahlon’s collaborative partner registered to lobby your Ministry for Vancity about the $50 million funding request, is the Minister aware that multiple senior officials in the Ministry of Housing met with Vancity about that funding request?”

•    “Was the Minister or his staff aware of those meetings between Vancity and Ministry of Housing officials?”

•    “Has the Minister of Housing or his staff had any communications with Nicola Hill or Parm Kahlon about Vancity Community Foundation in the last 6 months?”

•    “Have Ministry of Housing Officials briefed the Minister or his staff about meetings with Vancity, the funding request from Vancity, or any other information related to the funding request?”

•    “Is the Minister aware of the nature of the financial arrangement between his sister’s firm, Core Firm, and Nicola Hill Strategies Ltd.?”

•    “Is the Minister aware that Opreet Kang, who co-founded lobbying company Core Firm with his sister, is on the Board of Vancity Credit Union, which is connected to the Vancity Community Foundation?”

•    “Is the Minister aware of other lobbyist registrations made by Nicola Hill Strategies to directly lobby the Ministry of Housing?”

"British Columbians deserve transparency and accountability, especially when significant taxpayer dollars and potential conflicts of interest are involved," said MLA Harman Bhangu.

"Minister Kahlon must clearly answer questions regarding the integrity of his Ministry’s decisions and the potential influence of personal and family connections."

The Conservative Opposition Caucus will continue to hold the BC NDP Government accountable, advocating for transparency and integrity on behalf of all British Columbians.
 

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