Big money ban a hit with city residents

New rules have strong support: poll

A majority of Vancouverites are happy with a ban on big money in municipal politics, according to a new poll.

The Research Co. poll found 87 per cent of Vancouver residents agree with legislation enacted by the B.C. government to ban corporate and union donations in local election campaigns, and establish a limit of $1,200 on an individual’s donations to a party and its candidates.

Research Co. president Mario Canseco says the poll shows residents across all demographics and party affiliations are in favour of the new guidelines, which came into effect in September 2017.

When introduced, the legislation that banned corporate and union donations in local election campaigns did not prevent municipal political parties from raising money from the bodies if those funds were used exclusively toward operational expenses, and not on an election campaign.

The B.C. government then amended the regulations on April 27 to ensure that union and corporate donations cannot be used to fund any expenses of elector organizations during the year of a general local election.

More than half of the survey respondents (59 per cent) believe parties should not raise funds from corporations or unions at all, while 27 per cent believe the law should “probably” or “definitely” remain as originally tabled, and argue that parties should raise funds from corporations and unions for operational expenses.

Support for modifying existing legislation is high among Vancouverites who voted for Vision Vancouver’s Gregor Robertson in the 2014 mayoral election (58 per cent) and those who supported Kirk LaPointe of the Non-Partisan Association in the same contest (61 per cent).

“Vancouverites are decidedly happy with the ban on big money in municipal politics,” Canseco said in a statement.

“And the spirit of the ban, when it comes to operational expenses, is shared by voters who cast ballots for the top two vote-getters in Vancouver’s last mayoral election.”

Results are based on an online study conducted from April 28 to 30 among 400 adults in the City of Vancouver.