It sure says something when during this unprecedented media maelstrom surrounding president-elect Donald Trump a world-class newspaper like the New York Times takes a hard look at what’s going on here in B.C., literally on the other side of the continent.
The New York Times article, “British Columbia: The ‘Wild West’ of Canadian Political Cash,” notes that while pulling down a salary of $195,000 Premier Christy Clark also gets an annual stipend of up to $50,000 from her Liberal Party, via political contributions.
“Personal enrichment from the handouts of wealthy donors, some of whom have paid tens of thousands of dollars to meet with her at private party fundraisers?” writes reporter Dan Levin.
“No conflict of interest here, according to a pair of rulings last year by the province’s conflict-of-interest commissioner – whose son works for Ms. Clark.”
Levin’s report has created quite a stir. He is quoted in a subsequent interview with Global News as saying “If this were in Russia or China or the Balkans or some developing-world country, it would just be written off as nepotism or corruption.”
Whatever it is, and whatever the case, it’s embarrassing at best. Embarrassing for British Columbia, embarrassing for British Columbians.
Hopefully voters will take a long, hard look at this situation come May 9, when we go to the polls.
This should not get a pass.
The Now
