B.C. conflict commissioner launches review of exclusive political events
VICTORIA — British Columbia’s conflict of interest commissioner says he will review two complaints that exclusive, high-priced fundraising events promising access to political leaders are breaches of a provincial law.
Paul Fraser said in a letter that he plans to issue one opinion after reviewing the complaints about the practice of B.C. politicians participating in fundraising events.
New Democrat MLA David Eby and Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher filed separate complaints following media reports that Premier Christy Clark participates in fundraising events where people pay thousands of dollars for exclusive access to her.
“If you are behind closed doors with a small group and it’s a high price, you’re selling access to yourself and you’re getting a benefit from the money raised because it’s going to be used for your re-election campaign, and that’s a violation clearly of the prohibition on accepting gifts and other benefits,” Conacher said Thursday in an interview from Ottawa.