Environmental group blasts BC Liberals for LNG donations

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – There is another push to get so-called “big money” out of BC politics, this time from the Wilderness Committee.

The environmental group claims fracking, gas pipelines, and LNG companies have donated $1,007,456 to the BC Liberals since the last election in 2013.

A $15,000 donation from Spectra Energy and $4,500 from Woodfibre LNG put the total over the million mark last month.

“To think what some of the community groups that are fighting these LNG terminals have to work with in terms of resources, when companies give a million dollars to the BC Liberals, it makes the work that these community groups are doing that much harder,” says Peter McCartney, Climate Campaigner with the Wilderness Commitee.

“This is an industry that receives billions in tax breaks,” McCartney adds. “This is really hitting British Columbians in their pocketbooks and it’s hitting our environment. We need to get this big money out of our politics so that we can actually have our leaders serve the citizens of British Columbia.”

When reached for comment, the BC Liberal Party wouldn’t address these donations directly, but did issue a statement to NEWS 1130 claiming more transparency on the issue than other parties.

“We believe British Columbians are well served by a system in which individuals, organizations, and companies can support the party of their choice — with strict disclosure requirements and limits on campaign spending,” writes Emile Scheffel with the party.

“Recognizing the public’s interest in how political parties are funded, we are now reporting contributions on our website in real time — something the NDP refuses to do.”

“We do not believe it would be appropriate for taxpayers to directly subsidize political parties, including those they would never vote for.”

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today