Ruling sought on whether Eby in conflict on recall law

B.C.’s Opposition Liberals are asking the conflict commissioner to rule whether Attorney General David Eby is in a conflict of interest for trying to reform recall campaigns while a campaign is being organized against him in his own riding.

Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson wrote to to independent conflict commissioner Paul Fraser on Thursday to ask him to rule on Eby’s situation.

Eby introduced legislation this week to ban corporate and union donations from recall campaigns. However, a group called “Recall David Eby” has been organizing in his riding of Vancouver-Point Grey over anger at an additional school tax on homes valued at more than $3 million.

“The government has chosen to introduce Bill 53 mere days before the existing act allows for members of the 41st parliament to become subject to recall campaigns,” Wilkinson wrote in his letter to Fraser.

“In fact, there are published reports indicating that several members of the assembly, including the member for Vancouver-Point-Grey, will be targeted for recall by voters within their constituencies.”

Wilkinson asked Fraser two questions: Does Eby’s participation in debating and voting on the recall legislation constitute a conflict of interest when he’s aware of a recall campaign targeting him, and would he be in a conflict after a recall campaign formally began?

Premier John Horgan defended Eby Thursday, arguing no formal recall campaigns have begun and describing the complaint as “groundless.” He also accused the Liberals of wanting to keep big money in politics.

Recall campaigns can not officially start until 18 months after an election, meaning formal recall action could begin after Nov. 9 for the current crop of MLAs elected on May 9, 2017.

Three MLAs are being targeted by organized pre-recall efforts: Eby, Langley East Liberal MLA Rich Coleman and Abbotsford South Independent MLA Darryl Plecas, who does double duty at the legislature as the Speaker.

Eby said the timing of the legislation was designed to land before recall campaigns could officially begin.

In his own case, he said he doesn’t want to be in a situation where supporters fundraise to defend him by accepting the kind of donations from unions and corporations he has fought to eliminate.