NDP alleges Liberal staffer spied on youth meeting

An NDP MLA is accusing the B.C. Liberals of going to oddly secretive lengths to dig up dirt on his party.

David Eby said he was speaking to youth at a public event at the Richmond Community Centre on Saturday when he noticed a young woman. “I noticed about halfway through that one of the people was recording me using a cellphone she was trying to hide on her lap,” Eby said.

“When they said let’s take a group photograph, I watched her pretend to take a phone call and then scuttle out of the room.”

Eby said he checked the event sign-up sheet, and saw the woman had registered under the name Caroline Bleay. Bleay is a researcher in the B.C. Liberal caucus at the

legislature, but the woman didn’t indicate she was with the Liberals, Eby said.

“I know it’s an election, but this is just over-the-top and I find it’s reprehensible,” Eby said. “I think the government should be accountable for sending her there to record these youth and to pose as a young person interested in politics when in fact she was trying to dig up dirt for the election.”

Event organizer David Yang said it was a forum open to everyone, hosted by young New Democrats to discuss politics, public education and housing affordability.

B.C. Liberal caucus director Primrose Carson said Bleay was doing her job, which involves keeping tabs on political opponents.

“It is entirely appropriate for caucus research staff of all parties to keep track of positions being advocated by members of other caucuses,” Carson said in a statement. “This is a case of caucus research staff doing caucus research work.”

Eby suggested he’d complain to B.C.’s information and privacy commissioner, alleging the youths’ privacy was violated because they were recorded without their consent. However, Canadian privacy laws generally allow for recordings in public places.