Elections BC forwards political contributions investigation to RCMP

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VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – Elections BC says it has referred its investigation into indirect political contributions and other political contraventions of the Election Act to the RCMP. This follows reports the BC Liberals received illegal contributions from lobbyists.

Elections BC says the investigation is being handed to another agency “to ensure that it will in no way impede Elections BC’s administration of the provincial general election scheduled for May 9th.”

It also wants to ensure the public knows Elections BC has the ability to administer a provincial election in a fair, neutral and impartial way.

“The potential scope and timing of this matter make the RCMP the most appropriate agency to continue this investigation,” says Chief Electoral Officer Keith Archer.

Most recently, the BC Liberals said their fundraising practices are transparent and the party will fully co-operate with an Elections BC review of potential Election Act violations involving indirect political donations by lobbyists.

“We are committed to transparency, accountability, and ensuring that British Columbians can have confidence in our electoral financing system. That’s why we are voluntarily reporting all contributions in real time on our website. We have cooperated fully with Elections BC to date, and will cooperate fully if contacted by the RCMP,” says the party’s Emile Scheffel in a statement to NEWS 1130.

Dermod Travis, the Executive Director of IntegrityBC says this is another sign we need to overhaul our donation laws. “I think we have to immediately ban corporate union donations and we have to cap individual donations.”

Penalties for violating the financing provisions of the Election Act are a fine of not more than $10,000, imprisonment for a term of no longer than one year, or both.

“On March 9th, 2017, we received a request from Elections BC to investigate allegations of indirect contributions and other potential contraventions of the Election Act. We can confirm that an investigation into these allegations has been initiated and we will take the time necessary to conduct a thorough investigation,” says RCMP Sergeant Annie Linteau.

BC NDP Leader John Horgan has issued the following statement.

“We welcome the elevation of this investigation to the RCMP. British Columbians deserve answers on the influence of big money under Christy Clark and I hope this investigation is thorough and comprehensive. On Monday, Christy Clark has a choice. She can put a stop to this once and for all by getting big money out of politics or she can again choose her backroom corporate donors over British Columbians.”

The Liberals recently reported the party raised $12.4 million in donations last year. While the BC NDP, who have yet to report their finances for 2016, received $3 million in political donations in 2015.

 

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