The provincial government used finance ministry staff to send thank you letters to B.C. Liberal Party donors, according to documents released as part of the BC Rail court case and raised in the legislature by the NDP during today's question period.
“Is using a minister's office to raise funds for the B.C. Liberal Party standard operating procedure for this government?” asked NDP Attorney General critic Leonard Krog.
Attorney General Wally Oppal refused to answer questions about the matter since they came out as part of a matter that is still before the courts. (Responding to a later question on an unrelated matter, he said, “We usually follow the law on this side of the house.”)
Oppal didn't say much more in the hallway. “I'm not going to comment on anything that's related to the trial,” he said. “I'm not going to be drawn into this. I don't know what the issue is. I know a number of documents have been before the court.”
The letters, to be sent by then finance minister Gary Collins, were to thank people who donated to the Liberals to attend a Feb. 23, 2003 Canucks game along with Collins, as well as those who did not attend the game but donated anyway.
But instead of being handled by Collins' riding association, as would be normal for correspondence with donors, details were looked after by Yvette Heuser, who government telephone directories from 2002 and 2004 show was Collins' administrative co-ordinator.
That makes her officially an employee of the government, not the Liberal Party.
“It was a good opportunity to discuss issues of importance to the business community and receive personal feedback on the policies that this government has introduced,” said a letter prepared for Collins and addressed to David Cobb, chief operating officer for Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment, the company that owns the Canucks.
“I cannot stress enough how much I appreciate your support as we work towards fulfilling our election commitments to restore sound fiscal management and revitalize the economy,” the letter said.
Documents filed with Elections BC show the Liberals sold 30 tickets to the game for $500 each and netted $15,000 on the fundraiser.
“This is about taxpayer funded employees of the government of British Columbia assisting on office hours Liberal party fundraising,” said Krog, speaking with reporters. “This is a serious public issue. The taxpayers of British Columbia pay public servants to deliver public services. They don't pay them to raise money for the Liberal party.”
Krog said he was disappointed with the government's response. “I would have expected the Attorney General today, or the minister of finance, or the deputy premier or the government house leader to stand up and say to the people of British Columbia, 'We were wrong, I'm sorry, it will never happen again. The rules are the rules for everybody. They apply to Liberals as well as the citizens of British Columbia,'” he said. “I didn't hear that today.”
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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SharingIsGood
4 years ago
another outrage
I hope that everyone involved with this sort of thing suffers sleepless nights, and unending guilt. Cannot charges be brought against those involved? I surely hope so.
Van Isle
4 years ago
Do ya think now that Wally
Do ya think now that Wally is going to pull the pin and just not run in the next election? If I was him, I'd be gone like a shot; how embarressing!
sunshine coast girl
4 years ago
Collins has escaped...
It's a shame that. He's one of the scummiest.
sunshine coast girl
4 years ago
Here's the non-response..
that I got from the Premier's office after I forwarded the story to them.
"Thank you for your email. This issue was raised in Question Period yesterday and the transcript, although at this moment the text is still in draft form, can be viewed at http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/8-8.htm . By noon today it should be in its final form at that same site; Question Period started at approximately 2 pm -- the time indicator is on the right side of the transcribed draft pages and the center of the final draft pages.
We have noted your concerns and appreciate your taking the time to write.
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, March 2, 2009 4:30 PM
To: OfficeofthePremier, Office PREM:EX
Subject: Liberals used government office for fundraising work
Premier:
Since when is it ok for the BC Liberals to use my tax dollars to pay provincial government staff to carry out BC Liberal fundraising work? This is an outrage!! I expect that your party will quickly pay it back and discipline the involved parties.
sunshine coast girl
4 years ago
And here's my response..
to their non-response. However, at this point they usually just start ignoring me and don't bother to even pretend.
"Thank you for your response. However, I did not send you this email to request a copy of this issue from Hansard. I sent you an email to express my thorough disgust at the fact that any of us would even have to object to the use of our taxpayers $$ for things like this. However could anyone in government possibly justify a decision like that? However could anyone in government possibly expect that the public would not be incensed over this issue? I don't appreciate the condescending tone of your response, "We have noted your concerns and appreciate your taking the time to write." Just once it would be nice to write to my government and actually receive a relevant response instead of stonewalling, doublespeak and gibberish.