3079 replies to this topic

[Stephen James]

Four months is longer than my former company would take to do it's year end. Several billion, multiple revenue streams. It does seem long.

[Mike K.]

Yeah, it's too lax. It needs to be done as soon as possible, not over a quarter of the year later. That's simply unacceptable.

 

Victoria councillors immediately ratified an agenda without disclosing who financially supported them. That in itself goes against the basic premise of disclosure/open government.

[Stephen Andrew]

I’m not going to get into a debate with you.

The facts here are:

There was little time to complete the forms during the election campaign.

Financial agents tend to volunteer, generally they are professional people with full time positions. One has to work to their schedule.

It’s way more that $20,000 expenses and revenue, as will be disclosed when the full report is published.

There may be many reasons that one is unable to meet a deadline. Elections BC saw fit to grant an extension, as is allowed under statute.

[Mike K.]

The only recourse here is councils should be prohibited from voting on major changes outside of the normal administrative duties, until these disclosures are filed and made available to the public.

 

What we have is the worst of both worlds:

- not enough time to file disclosures, requiring four months to do it

- a rush for immediate decision-making by newly-elected politicians on significant matters

[spanky123]

^ I think it is a tough sell arguing that someone who made a $1,200 donation (max) bought influence, especially when I am assuming some of the campaigns topped 6 figures in donations and expenses.

 

Now it is a much easier sell arguing that a group/company who 'donated' $50,000 bought influence but that will never show up anywhere because they did it using one of the many legal loopholes in the elections act. 

[Victoria Watcher]

 especially when I am assuming some of the campaigns topped 6 figures in donations and expenses.

 

The limit is around $90k for mayor and $30 or 40k for councilors.

[spanky123]

The limit is around $90k for mayor and $30 or 40k for councilors.

 

Yes during the 30 day period before the election but unlimited prior to that. That is how Helps spent $109K in 2018 

Edited by spanky123, 31 January 2023 - 03:51 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Yes during the 30 day period before the election but unlimited prior to that. That is how Helps spent $109K in 2018 

 

Do you have to report that too?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 31 January 2023 - 03:52 PM.

[spanky123]

Do you have to report that too?

 

Yes. Two columns to report expenses, before and during campaign period.

[Awaiting Juno]

The financial disclosures now appear to be generally available.

[Victoria Watcher]

The financial disclosures now appear to be generally available.

 

Here is Alto's.

 

$68,000

 

https://contribution...d/100146294.pdf

 

Matt Dell $24k:

 

https://contribution...d/100145467.pdf

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 February 2023 - 01:15 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The financial disclosures now appear to be generally available.

 

https://twitter.com/VoteYYJWilliams

 

[dasmo]

Advertisng works....

[Nparker]

But advertising isn't always truthful.

[Victoria Watcher]

I'm not sure why brand new candidates try to do it on the cheap.

 

Susan Simmons < $300

Gary Beyer ~$4000

Steve Orcherton (first runner-up - 9th place) ~ $14,000

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 February 2023 - 02:39 PM.

[dasmo]

But advertising isn't always truthful.

It’s not called truth telling.

[Victoria Watcher]

I think if you don't at least do a mailer and some signs, you are not going to get far.

 

 

 

[Stephen James]

For the first time, I opened the proposed budget docs and read the material including the attachments. I even used a highlighter and started making notes. I have some experience in financial services so I thought I'd be safe.

 

Never, never, let me do that again. I don't want to know. It was horrible. Just the financial governance issues alone...

[Mike K.]

It looks like the slate that wasn’t a slate, might have been a slate after all.

[dasmo]

In case you guys missed it…

Helps will get $80,000 for a six-month contract.

https://vancouversun...r-bc-government