MS. VICKI HUNTINGTON

BILL M 204 – 2013

ELECTION FINANCE AMENDMENT ACT, 2013

This Act amends the Election Act by limiting allowable political contributions to donations made by individual residents of British Columbia. Eliminating corporate, union, and out-of-province donations will put party and candidate financing in the hands of eligible voters, while reducing the perception and prevalence of conflict of interest in the Legislature.

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

Election Act

1 Section 186 of the Election Act, R. S. B. C. 1996, c. 106, is amended in subsections (1) and (2) by striking out "individual or organization" and substituting "individual";

2 Section 186 is amended by adding:

Ineligible contributors

186.1  (1) No person or entity other than an individual who is a resident of British Columbia in accordance with section 32 of this Act shall make a political contribution as defined in section 180 of this Act.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to contributions made under section 182.

3 Section 190 is amended

(a) in subsection (1) by repealing items (d) (e); and

(b) by repealing subsection (2).

Explanatory Note

This Act amends the Election Act by limiting allowable political contributions to donations made by individual residents of British Columbia. Eliminating corporate, union, and out-of-province donations will put party and candidate financing in the hands of eligible voters, while reducing the perception and prevalence of conflict of interest in the Legislature.