Ban big money bill

$1200 is way too much. I do not know anyone who would donate $1200 to a political party. How about moving soon to $100 as in Quebec. Needs some careful safeguards so bosses can't send their employees off with a pocketful of cash to be donated to the required party.

You are doing a good job. The last election was a squeaker but it turned out well for British Columbia. Keep up the good work.

Why the tax handout to pay for campaigns .Why can't all parties just use monies collected for their campaigns instead of putting another burden on the taxpayer. I don't trust Mr. Horgan to keep this temporary . Although i know it helps the greens the most I do not think it is fair for us to have to pay 2/3 of our money to parties we don't want to support

l personally feel the allowable limit for donations, should be much lower. That way, each citizen of BC will be able to feel that they can contribute and afford to support their candidate and their party. Many people cannot afford to contribute the proposed $1,200 annual limit, so the few that can afford to, will have more influence than the majority, who cannot afford such an amount. l think it should be a limit of around $500. That way the parties will be on an equal footing and will have to be more involved with the election process, instead of buying billboards, and radio, print, and tv media advertising. The politicians will have to be more involved with the populace, one on one.

Definitely, eliminate any possible loop-holes for 3rd-party funding for PACs. l like the idea of less overall election spending, as it becomes more about the getting to know the candidates and the parties, by their efforts to work the crowds in the ridings and in the Province. lt brings the politicians back onto the level of the citizenry, instead of directing a 'War Games' election strategy from their 'lofty towers'.  

The NDP and Greens blew it when they just bought out their election financing reform package. lt seemed that right away they said we will ban c, u and in-kind donations, but now we will make you, the taxpayers shoulder the funding of the contesting parties for their election campaign. Why do politicians, in power, have such a 'perception deficit'? Don't they see that such a narrative is just going to blow up in their faces, and people will have forgotten that they were changing the election financing limit (which many of those that are now disgruntled, were wanting the NDP & greens to implement).

Besides editing for grammar and spelling, l wish that the two political parties that are now leading the charge for change would also look at what they are trying to convey in the 'Message' and how it might be perceived.

'Two examples would be: the 'Ban on the Grizzly Bear Hunt' (except for eating the bear meat). Why couldn't the NDP have the balls to just ban the Grizzly Bear hunt. Now they have created a contentious loop-hole, so their ban is totally unenforceable and toothless.

The other, is when the NDP fired Gordon Wilson from his Liberal hired position. Any mature, diplomatic and wise politician and party, would have said, "Thank you for your services, but we will not be continuing your contract / employment, so let us work out a severance package", instead of slandering Wilson, and saying that he had done nothing worthwhile, which lead to a defamation suit, that will cost BC Taxpayers, all because of an arrogant Politician's ego rant.

We have to remember that not everybody voted for your two parties...Around 40% for the NDP and about 20% for the Greens, so be respectful and attentive to all BC citizens. You will get the traction and support to enact a lot more of your agenda, if you are listening and pacing yourselves so that you have the voters understanding and accepting your bills and legislation.

Let's bring about Real Change for the people of BC and the wonderful Province that we live in. Clive Langton

I am a very senior activist who is saddened that we , my generation, were not able to prevent the workplace and the Political Losses . However it is a monumental challenge to fight the Corporate Logic when so many of our class has succumbed to the Aberration of the principle of Corporate Greed, earn more than your share of the Economy through our shares, and do less to receive this" .

The sooner these measures are in force, the better. This is a really good start to reversing the eroding state of democracy in British Columbia, but there is still more work to do. The government's budget needs to reflect funding for enforcement of these measures, especially as people, parties, corporations, and other special interests try to find new ways to undermine our democracy. More work needs to be done to reform elections and governance, such as eliminating first-past-the-post where results do not reflect what the voters really want. There needs to be some innovation in elections and governance, such as requiring truthfulness from candidates, elected representatives, and parties the same way we require veracity from witness testimony in a court of law, with the liability of perjury, or where advertisers must conform to the federal competition act and other laws. Finally, there needs to be tangible investigations of the misdeeds of the previous government and the Liberal Party of British Columbia, with an aim for determining legal liabilities, such as breach of trust, or at a minimum an official report and censure. The soundness and wisdom of selecting our elected officials is the most important civil duty we have, and the process should reflect that.

I am so hopeful since the NDP/Green coalition was formed, a bill like this would never have been introduced if the Liberals were still in power. If we want our representatives to represent voters, then voters need to be the ones supporting them - and ONLY voters. Corporations and unions are not people, they do not get a vote, so they shouldn't be allowed to vote with their wallets either.

The Green Party is providing some much needed input to the NDP. I am very favorably impressed with the party of 3 who are giving the NDP some legitimate input and conscience . Well Lepricons !!

I am very pleased and like the subsidy too. not sure about partial expense reimbousement. This letter by me was published in the TC yesterday Dear Sir, I am very pleased to see meaningful campaign finance reform and in particular the per vote subsidy. Yes, it requires taxpayers to pay for something they do not want ( kind of like the union dues check-off, maybe?) , but the per vote subsidy serves to partly offset the pernicious effect of the first-past-the- post electoral system. One's vote is no longer wasted, as one’s previously wasted vote would at least earn a dollar or two for one’s chosen party. Since I believe that we will never ever have proportional representation in Canada, this subsidy takes on extra importance. In fact we could offer the potential abolition of the subsidy in a referendum on proportional representation. Some of those opposed to proportional representation might possibly be swayed by the abolition of the voting subsidy. Kudos to British Columbia’s new government for making the system a bit fairer for all. Yours truly, David Pearce

A great addition to the proud legacy of our party

I agree with them all. It's been out of control and unbalanced. This will help. The last thing we need is to end up the like US where only the rich have any influence. Overall total spending for elections should be much lower. People don't vote for someone because of lawn signs. Have more media interviews and debates, less travelling to each community. Make it so ALL major parties (including the Greens) are on a more equal level of spending for elections. Thank you, Green Party!

I think this bill takes care of many of the fundamental issues we've been encumbered with as a Province and puts a massive dent in the NYT's hopes of continuing to call us the "Wild West." I'm split on the public funding of parties. I think a standard funding model favours the governing / popular parties and leaves independents and smaller parties further behind, which moved first past the post even further from a shot a proportional representation of some kind. That's a problem, but one I can live with for one term (only) given the pros of the current bill.

I too am very pleased with the election spending bill. I think the limit set for individual donations is about right. I would not want to see it set higher as this gives more influence to wealthier individuals. Respecting government funding for election expenses I think this is acceptable as a transition measure but I think the amount of funding should be set lower. Also I think that if we are to provide funding there should be a method for supporting individuals who run as independents.

Good move to ban big money and restore more democracy to the election process. Would like to see similar legislation at Municipal level.

The proposed bill is what is needed to make sure the rich of the province do not get special treatment thru their contributions to any one Party

I'm amazed and grateful to see the government moving towards banning corporate and union donations from BC politics. I dream of seeing Canada as a place of justice and sustainable living. The recent political developments in BC amaze me and give me hope.

I do not agree that taxpayers should fund political parties; that should be left to individuals.

It's way past time to get big money out of BC politics if we are to preserve our democracy. We can't have moneyed interests buying government policies and decisions. My only main quibble is I think you've set the limit too high at $1200. Most British Columbians want a limit around $700, according to research by Dogwood and U Vic. I would also like to see this extended to municipal politics. And let's build in some safeguards to ensure that over time the moneyed interests don't find loopholes and work-arounds that no one has foreseen yet -- a regular review would be a good idea. Passing electoral reform is probably essential to making sure the ban big money legislation stands. Another false Liberal majority would probably result it your legislation being undone!