Gordon Campbell’s B.C. Liberal Party took in $7.9 million worth of political contributions compared to $2.9 million for Carole James’ New Democratic Party in calendar 2008.
The ruling party spent $8.5 million in the same period, dwarfing $3.3 million in Dipper spending, according to Annual Financial Reports made public today.
The numbers are taken from each party’s Statement of Income and Expenses (B.C. Liberal and NDP) and include contributions from individuals, corporations and other groups such as trade unions.
All political parties in the province had to file a financial report for 2008 by a March 31 deadline. The documents reflect each party’s fiscal situation over the previous year. They don’t show donations since the end of December, so they aren’t a complete economic picture.
But the reports do provide a snapshot of political spending and fundraising in the year leading up to an election.
The B.C. Liberals took in $2.3 million from individuals compared to about the same for the NDP.*
There was a big disparity in donations from corporations – the ruling party took in $4.7 million while the official opposition netted $38,216.
Not surprisingly, the NDP received $526,705 from trade unions compared to a paltry $3,040 for the B.C. Liberals.
Geoff Dembicki is a staff reporter for The Hook.
*Figures corrected 15:00 06/04/09.
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Skywalker
2 years ago
The best government money can buy
"It is no clearer than this line: "There was a big disparity in donations from corporations – the ruling party took in $4.6 million while the official opposition netted $32,100." For some reason in our kind of democracy there is nothing wrong with buying votes/support. It is no surprise the Liberals wanted a gag law either.
G West
2 years ago
CEO Government
The BEST government other CEOs can buy.
Long past time for ordinary people to speak up with their votes and tell Gordon Campbell and his corporate friends that the FOR SALE sign is coming down.
cocean
2 years ago
Don't like polarizing politics?
For people who don't like the polarity in our politics, the Us vs. Them, Labour vs. Business dichotomies, these stats are all the more reason why we need proportional representation to elect our representatives to the legislature. BC-STV won't fix all that is wrong with our system, but it would be an important, crucial step along the way.
Dan the socialist
2 years ago
And yet so many bitch about
And yet so many bitch about the myth that the NDP gets so much money from unions, yet those same people seem not to have an issue with EL Gordo getting that much from corporations...
I think the $3,040 the libs got from unions is probably from that scab/rat union CLAC.
We need real pro rep in BC or even MMP like New Zealand not STV...
Grumpy
2 years ago
And the Corporations..........
.......... will want at least $13.8 or more million in return of their investment. You get what you pay for!
seth
2 years ago
cheap
Where are the green party figgers.
Gordo gives them billions in tax cuts, 40 billion in corporate pirate power welfare and the best they can come up with is 4.6 million.
The pikers!!!!
Van Isle
2 years ago
It's about time that
It's about time that donations from political parties can only come from the voters themselves. No money shall come from any company, corporation, organization, or union. Nor may anyone donate money on behalf of someone else. Monies donated can only come from provincal residents who are on the provincal voters list and the same applies for Federal elections. To cap it off; any money donated to political parties cannot be tax deductable.
Bailey
2 years ago
Can't do that, Van Isle
If only voters can contribute, that discriminates against the young, who have a clear interest even though they can't vote yet.
Democracy has always had this landed gentlemen vs. the great unwashed debate going on. In civil life, it's one citizen gets one vote, regardless. But the wealthy still resent this.
They've built corporations as a sort of democracy 2.0. One dollar one vote. So the rich owners get absolute control, all the votes their money can buy. And they clearly want to impose that pattern on civil politics too.
Disaster. That would put our civil administration and human rights and justice system and public works into the same hands that brought us such wonders as Enron.
And it would establish an official line between owners and the rest, who would basically become serfs and slaves once again, as they have been in the past. The owners seem to think would be only right.
How about nobody can contribute to political organisations at all?
All media could be required to provide massive amounts of free time for public purposes as part of their license requirements, and the government could acquire a fleet of tour buses to lend to candidates for campaigning from. No airplanes allowed, except up north where there's no road access.
That might be an approach.