By Paul Willcocks
The public believes big political donations from corporations and
unions buy special treatment from government.
The people writing those big cheques think so too. They spend the money
expecting it to pay off in future.The only people who don't believe that are the politicians getting the cash.
Maybe the Mount Polley mine disaster will finally force them to question the effect of unlimited contributions by special interests in this province.
Imperial Metals has given at least $233,000 to the BC Liberals since they have been in power. Billionaire Murray Edwards, a major shareholder, arranged a dinner in Calgary that raised more than $1 million from energy and mining companies for Christy Clark's Liberals.
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B.C. remains one of three provinces that allow unlimited political donations from corporations and unions, in both provincial and municipal elections.
The Mount Polley disaster gave concrete form to the general public suspicion that big donors had big influence. It should be the spark that brings an end to big donations to political parties.
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