Minister won’t apologize for pointing finger at NPA

B.C.’s municipal affairs minister won’t apologize to Vancouver’s Non-Partisan Association for accusing it of trying to skirt rules that ban political donations by companies and unions.

Selina Robinson said Thursday she still feels the NPA is trying to find ways around the “intent” of legislation last year that banned corporate and union donations in local election campaigns, and set a limit of $1,200 on an individual’s donations to a party and its endorsed candidates.

But the law, as written, doesn’t prevent municipal political parties from raising money from corporations and unions if that money goes toward operational expenses, instead of an election campaign. The NPA has said they’re open to raising funds in any way the law allows, but Vision Vancouver has charged that accepting corporate donations for operational expenses violates the spirit of the legislation.

“All the other parties have declared and they understand the intent of the law,” Robinson said Thursday. “They are following the intent. They get it. And we have one party that’s saying, ‘well no.’ ”

Robinson said she wants her staff to come back with options to close the loophole within a week.

“Everybody needs certainty on this, and we need to make sure we can keep big money out of politics, because that’s what we said we’d do,” she said.

NPA president Gregory Baker said he wrote to Robinson on Wednesday to request an apology. In Baker’s message, he cited comments Robinson made this week to Postmedia saying: “It’s disappointing that some parties are looking for ways to bring big money back into local politics.”

In an interview on Thursday, Baker said: “I think she mischaracterized our position. We’re not looking to skirt the issue, we’ve been abiding by the law . ... When there was clarification required, we contacted Elections B.C. to explain and they told us how it was. So we’ve been following the letter of the law.”

In response to Baker’s statement that the NPA is simply following the rules as they’re written, Vision Coun. Andrea Reimer said: “It was abundantly clear in every single iteration of motions that came to council, when (NPA) representatives voted on it, that they supported a full ban on corporate and union donations and limits on individual contributions.”

“The minister has clearly said it was not the intention to have a loophole,” Reimer said. “So the fact that their answer is ‘Well, we’re just following the law,’ it’s quite appalling.”

Reimer, who isn’t running for re-election this year, plans to introduce a motion at Vancouver’s next city council meeting, calling on all councillors to go on record supporting the closure of the socalled loophole.

But NPA Coun. George Affleck said the NPA was following the rules as explained to them by Elections B.C., not exploiting any loophole. Affleck said that if the minister has identified problems with the legislation, she should not be publicly criticizing the NPA for following the rules as written.

“Fix your legislation, minister, if you think it’s broken. Don’t start pointing fingers at the NPA or any political party for following the legislation. This is outrageous,” he said.

“I’m very, very concerned the minister is being so flippant about this very important legislation and making impulsive comments to the media.”

Affleck, who is not seeking reelection this year, said: “To my mind, the premier should now insert himself in this process.”