Political Donations

On or before March 31st each year, registered political parties in BC must file an annual financial report with Elections BC. The reports for 2006 are interesting because they capture the financial activities of the parties for the first full calendar year since the last election; as such they don't have the distortions of campaign financing.

In 2006 the BC Liberals had income of $5,694,076; the NDP had income of $3,300,228. While the NDP had $2.3 million less in income, it raised $1,041,601 more than the Liberals from individual donations, and when donations of less than $250 are examined, the NDP raised $1,136,095 more than the Liberals from small donations. The BC Liberals raised 25% of their income from individual donations; the NDP raised 75% of their income from individual donations. Of course, it is no great surprise that the Liberal party is beholden to business.

The names of those who donate $250 or more are disclosed. It is interesting to see whether BC's 79 MLAs put their money where their mouth is. Only 5 of the 46 Liberal MLAs donated more than $1,000 (keep in mind that donations refer to the total amount donated over the calendar year, so 12 donations of $100 require disclosure of $1,200). Dave Hayer (MLA for Surrey-Tynehead) was the most generous in supporting his party with $1,576 in donations; half of the Liberal MLAs donated less than $515, and no disclosure could be found for 8, meaning that they donated less than $250. The average annual total donation from a Liberal MLA was $569.58.

All NDP MLAs are found in the disclosure statement. Only 10 NDP MLAs donated less than $1,000, the smallest donation being $650 (ahead of more than half of the Liberals). Adrian Dix (MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway) was the most generous in supporting his party with $4,745 in donations. The average annual total donation from an NDP MLA was $1,274.88.

The Liberals rely so heavily on business to finance their party that they don't make much effort to personally contribute. As far as the leaders go, the disclosure statements show that Gordon Campbell donated a total of $800 during 2006; Carole James donated $1,200.