Despite claims of open governance and fair access to information, the B.C. Liberal government has failed to provide transparency.

SKYROCKETING HST PROPAGANDA COSTS

• The B.C. Liberal government has spent over a million dollars on pro-HST propaganda. They spent $780,000 on glossy pamphlets that ended up in the shredder, $240,000 for the premier’s TV infomercial to promote the HST and a since-shelved desperate attempt to buy off voters with a tax cut, and another $190,000 to pay B.C. Liberal insider Tom Syer to run an HST “information centre.”

$6 MILLION B.C. RAIL BUY-OUT

• The office of the Attorney General signed off on a $6 million buy-out to secure guilty pleas from former political aides Dave Basi and Bob Virk in the B.C. Rail corruption trial, so that the B.C. Liberal government could save their own political hides from media and public scrutiny.

STONEWALLED B.C. RAIL QUESTIONS

• For over seven years, the B.C. Liberals have refused to answer questions relating to the sale of B.C. Rail. They have refused public calls for an independent public inquiry into the sale of the former crown corporation, the unprecedented raid on the legislature and the entire B.C. Rail Liberal corruption scandal.

LOBBYIST LOOPHOLES

• After years of criticism and numerous scandals, the B.C. Liberals were forced to act after an embarrassing spectacle involving key B.C. Liberal insider Patrick Kinsella thumbing his nose at the Lobbyist Registrar, but they have left open significant loopholes in the registry.

FOI WAIT TIMES UP

• Under the B.C. Liberal government, FOI wait times have increased substantially since 2001. B.C. is now tied for worst in the country for open government and access to information, according to the Canadian Newspaper Association. The new Information and Privacy Commissioner has said “the fact that requests from the media and political parties continue to be plagued by delay is especially troubling.”

GOVERNMENT WATCHDOGS ATTACKED

• The B.C. Liberal government has continually attacked independent watchdogs that were established to protect the public interest. When criticized by the Auditor General and the Representative for Children and Youth for not protecting the public interest, the B.C. Liberals’ stock response has been to attack the messenger.

DIRTY TRICKS

• B.C. Liberal operatives are under investigation for dirty tricks in Vancouver-Fraserview during the 2009 election.

POLICITIZATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE

• The premier’s ex-chief of staff Martyn Brown has recently been appointed to a new position as Deputy Minister of Tourism, despite the B.C. Liberals’ promises of a non-partisan public service. After taking office, the B.C. Liberals also politicized government communications by creating the Public Affairs Bureau as a political spin shop staffed not by civil servants but by individuals who serve at the pleasure of cabinet.

SECRETIVE P3 CONTRACTS

• The B.C. Liberal government has refused to answer the public’s questions about secretive public-private partnership agreements that end up costing taxpayers more in the long run, keeping secret the key details of these agreements which provide steep profits to many long-time Liberal donors.

TORE UP LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACTS

• The B.C. Liberals broke their promise by tearing up legally binding union contracts shortly after taking office. Despite this move being declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada, the B.C. Liberals have refused to restore union members’ rights.  

CANCELLED FALL LEGISLATURE SITTINGS

• The B.C. Liberals have repeatedly cut off debate and forced through legislation in the spring and then cancelled or curtailed fall legislative sittings in order to duck questions on key issues.

The Carole James New Democrats are advocating for open and transparent governance and a vibrant democracy that fosters discussion and debate with British Columbians, including legislation to strengthen freedom of information and change the way political parties finance political campaigns.