The Independent MLA for Cariboo North, Bob Simpson, has tabled the Election Transparency Amendment Act 2011; a Bill designed to enable voters to make a more informed choice when they mark a ballot. Changes to the Election Act will require candidates, constituency associations, and political parties to submit ongoing donation reports to Elections BC during the election period.
“During the recent leadership contests of both political parties, leadership candidates publicly reported who donated to their campaigns prior to party members selecting a leader; this level of transparency is laudable,” said Simpson. “This Bill would simply extend this right to know to all voters during general elections.”
The Bill requires that the first comprehensive donation report be submitted on the tenth day of a general election and all donations received from the last public reporting by Elections BC would be publicly disclosed. Thereafter, candidates, constituency associations, and political parties would be required to update their donors’ list (name and amount) on a daily basis.
Under the current system in B.C., information about donations to candidates and political parties is not made available by Elections BC until well after the outcome of a General Election has been determined. Simpson says this Bill gives both political parties an opportunity to pass into law, immediately, procedures they’ve already used voluntarily.
Pre-election disclosure is a component of the campaign finance system in the United States, where candidates must report on campaign finances before and after a general election. Pre-election disclosure was also under consideration as an option for changes to municipal government campaign financing, explored by the Local Government Task Force.
Bob Simpson is the Independent MLA for Cariboo North and is working toward a more fair and transparent democracy for all British Columbians.