Election Finance Contribution Limits

Whereas in 2017 the BC Legislature amended the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act LECFA, banning special interest and corporate political donations at the local government level during an election year, placing limits on contributions and mandating public disclosures. However, the LECFA only applies to electoral organizations and candidates during an election year for the specific purpose of campaigning, or the last 28 days before the election in the case of a third party sponsor; And whereas the October 2018 Elections BC Report of the Chief Electoral Officer provided tworecommendations on Improving Accessibility, Transparency and Compliance which were as follows: 8.1.An elector organization is an organization that endorses or intends to endorse a candidate in an election; 8.2.Require elector organizations to register with Elections BC and file annual disclosure statements including reports of all financial transactions, similar to those filed by provincial political parties. Maintain the membership requirement 50 members for elector organizations as prescribed by s. 932a of the Local Government Act: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province amend the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act to apply contributor and contribution limits to operating accounts of elector organizations and candidates for operational purposes at all times, and to require that they provide annual disclosure reports of contributions received in operating bank accounts, in election years and nonelection years; And be it further resolved that third party sponsors be required to provide disclosure reports for the full election year or the date that a referendum is announced, whichever is later.