B.C. Liberals issued fines by Elections BC

The B.C. Liberals have been fined a total of $900 by Elections B.C.

The fines are connected to two cases of accepting a prohibited contribution, and one case involving failure to report a specified fundraising function within the time frame established by the Election Act.

Elections B.C. said a $200 fine has been issued to the party relating to an incident where B.C. Liberal Party financial agent, David Goldsmith, accepted a donation that was over the allowable limit and reported that contribution to the party’s annual financial report for 2018.

The other incident of accepting a prohibited donation, which came with a fine of $400, also involved an amount over the allowable limit being reported to the party’s third interim financial report for 2019.

The incident involving failing to report a specified fundraising function, which comes with a $300 penalty, relates to the January 2020 event titled Spring Celebration with MLA Teresa Wat.

Elections B.C. requires at least seven days advance notice for fundraising events, but the Liberals submitted their notice on January 8 and held the event for the Richmond Centre MLA on January 13.

All three fines were issued to the B.C. Liberal Party on March 24, 2022.