VICTORIA— In the wake of embarrassing international media attention and renewed calls from across the province, John Horgan is challenging Christy Clark to finally end B.C.’s disgraceful system of unlimited political donations.

“I’m extremely proud to be a British Columbian, but I’m embarrassed by our premier,” Horgan said. “A tiny number of millionaires have our premier in their pocket, and it has to end.”

Analysis of B.C. Liberal 2016 fundraising data indicates that just 1.5% of B.C. Liberal donors account for half of the more than $12 million raised by the B.C. Liberals last year. These top 185 donors ponied-up an average of $37,000 each to fill Christy Clark’s campaign coffers.

“You don’t have to look too hard to see what $37,000 buys,” says Horgan. “Millionaires gave big to Christy Clark, and she promptly turned around and gave those same millionaires a billion dollar tax break, paid for by hiking ICBC and Hydro costs for regular British Columbians.”

Horgan will be introducing a bill to ban corporate and union donations at the beginning of the spring session of the legislature. A ban could be in place well before the election – all that’s missing is a “yes” from Christy Clark.

“Unlike Christy Clark’s friends, regular British Columbians don’t have $37,000 laying around to buy a government that works for them,” says Horgan. “Enough is enough. It’s time to ban big money from politics.”