Thoughts on BC Politics and More

A committee of MLAs that reviewed British Columbia’s lobbying rules has recommended removing limits on wining and dining public office holders and allowing it to be kept secret when they are promised gifts. The NDP, Conservative and Independent MLAs on the special committee that reviewed the Lobbyists Transparency Act recommended 24 changes they say are “intended to reduce administrative workload while maintaining transparency and simplifying reporting requirements to encourage democratic participation.” But Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher says the committee missed an opportunity to strengthen the province’s anti-corruption law and its recommendations would increase the risk of corruption ... CLICK HERE for the full story

... “Democracy Watch's position here is quite straightforward. The statute that purported to fix election dates did, in fact, do so. It asks that the government be required to comply with that statute and that the courts exercise its supervisory role to require that,” said Emily MacKinnon, lawyer for the appellants. MacKinnon noted the government’s position that the statute is not binding, but is instead “aspirational” or that it “merely sets a horizon.” The government also argued that courts are incapable of considering the legal boundaries of elections ... CLICK HERE for the full story