BC Liberals report donations in ‘real time,’ raise $12.3 million in 2016
Posted January 13, 2017 6:23 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VICTORIA (NEWS1130) – The British Columbia Liberal Party says it will begin posting its political donations in real time, starting today by revealing it collected $12.3 million in corporate and individual contributions last year.
The Election Act filing deadline for 2016 donations is March 31, but the figures were released today in what the party says is a voluntary move to improve transparency and accountability.
The party has been criticized for holding exclusive fundraising events with access to Premier Christy Clark where tickets can cost up to $20,000 each.
Clark said last year she would move to introduce real-time reporting of donations and the party says it will now post its financial contributions online within 10 business days of deposit — and well ahead of next May’s BC election.
Data released by the Liberal Party says it received $7.9 million in corporate donations in 2016 and $4.4 million in individual contributions last year.
BC Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Affleck reserved decision Friday on an application by political watchdog group Democracy Watch to set aside two rulings by the conflict of interest commissioner clearing Clark of allegations she violated conflict guidelines by attending exclusive fundraising events.
