B.C. premier says NDP’s campaign finance law takes aim at ‘big influencer’
VICTORIA — Premier John Horgan says his government will introduce a campaign finance reform law next week that takes big money out of politics with legislated limits on donations to political parties by unions, corporations and individuals.
B.C. has earned a Wild West reputation on campaign financing for its unlimited donation rules that saw political parties raise millions for their election war chests, included staging exclusive fundraising events where donors paid thousands to attend and mingle with politicians.
“We want to make sure people are at the centre of politics and there aren’t big influences coming from unions, from the private sector or deep-pocketed individuals,” Horgan said Wednesday.
Campaign finance reform was a key election promise for the New Democrats, who introduced six private member’s bills to the B.C. legislature since 2005 seeking campaign finance reforms. Each NDP bill was not supported by the former Liberal government.