BC NDP fined over Westside fundraiser

The BC NDP has been fined $500 for not complying with regulations for a fundraising event last year in West Kelowna.

On Dec. 3, 2017, the NDP held a fundraiser at the West Kelowna Holiday Inn, attended by Premier John Horgan.

The party sold 88 tickets to the event at $125 each and raised $12,678.

On Jan. 3, 2018, the NDP filed a specified fundraising action form with Elections BC.

The form was filed after the event was held, contravening a section of the Election Act requiring organizations and individuals planning specified fundraising functions to provide notice of the event to Elections BC at least seven days before the event.

A specified fundraising event is one that is attended by the leader of a major political party, a parliamentary secretary or member of the executive council, and is held to raise funds for a major political party or candidate, leadership contestant or constituency association representing a major political party.

The West Kelowna event was one of four events for which the BC NDP was issued fines for late reporting.

It was also fined $2,000 for an event Oct. 21, 2017, in Maple Ridge, $1,000 for an event Oct. 27, 2017, in Coquitlam and $500 for an event Nov. 18, 2017, in Maple Ridge.

Elections BC said there was no evidence the BC NDP intended to deliberately evade the legislation.

“The BC NDP had taken some measures to prevent the non-compliance from occurring, and took additional measures when notified of the investigation,” said Elections BC. “The non-compliance itself was caused by human error.”