Tri-City residents can dish on election campaign funding at an upcoming dialogue featuring Coquitlam councillors Terry O'Neill, Chris Wilson and Bonita Zarrillo.
Organized by Coquitlam resident Rodney Stehr and Port Moody's Amy Lubik, the event is aimed at generating discussion on the issue of election campaign financing and giving voters a chance to ask questions of the politicians who have raised the issue here.
"It's a really interesting and controversial topic, and we would love to hear more sides of the argument," Lubik said.
Last month, Zarrillo asked Coquitlam council to send a resolution to the Union of BC Municipalities meeting in September to lobby the provincial government to ban union and corporate donations in civic election campaigns. Zarrillo said the contributions, even at the municipal level, can be significant and leave council members open to influence from donors — predominantly developers, with unions and labour groups also providing sizeable contributions.
"Perception is reality for the electorate," Zarrillo said at the time. "It is important that we react to that perception."
In the 2014 election, candidates in Coquitlam, PoCo and PoMo raised just over $890,000, nearly half of which came from corporate contributors. Another $152,000 was collected from unions and labour groups while $107,000 came from individual donors.
The province is mulling expense limits in civic campaigns and released a report from a special committee on local elections that included a spending formula based on a city's population.
Coun. O'Neill, however, has said he wouldn't support Zarrillo's motion, saying limiting donations will hurt non-incumbents while benefitting those who are aligned with the funding and networks of political parties. O'Neill said he has seen no evidence that indicates a council member has been swayed to vote in a particular way based on donations received during an election campaign.
Coquitlam council is expected to consider the motion at its June 20 meeting.
Lubik said she hopes the dialogue event on June 22 will give the public "another venue to discuss and ask questions about the issue."
• The dialogue on election donations is on Wednesday, June 22 at 7 p.m. at the Gallery Bistro (2411 Clarke St., PoMo). To reserve a seat for dinner at 6:30 p.m., call 604-937-0998.
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