THE BC NDP Said on Wednesday that for the second straight day, and for the 15th time in this election, BC Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson refused to hold a media availability.
David Eby at his regular media availability said: “The Conservative leader has gone into hiding. But he’s not doing nothing. Today he has not one, but two $1,000 plus donation private donor events that he’s hosting. Fundraising is part of the election process. But what I don’t understand is attending private donor events while you don’t answer questions from the media. When you don’t attend debates, like conservative candidates are doing. When you don’t take follow-up questions.
“The promises are being made in these backroom fundraisers that are not on the Conservative Party website, including the repeal of our reforms around small-scale housing. Why is this promise being made in a private fundraiser instead of in the Conservative platform? Why is it being made at a private fundraiser instead of in front of the camera for British Columbians to know about the plans of the Conservatives to drive up the cost of housing?
“This is just like the promise to the personal injury lawyers to double British Columbians’ insurance. British Columbians can’t afford these private backroom deals that are going to drive up their costs on housing and car insurance and so many other things.”
Elections BC filings reveal that Doerkson is scheduled for two private maximum donor fundraisers in swanky downtown Vancouver hotels – marking five private fundraisers since he last held a media availability.
Today’s $1,485-per-ticket double header includes a 4:30 p.m. event at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre before scooting over to the Paradox Hotel at 7 p.m.
The fundraisers are posted on Elections BC as legally required but have not been advertised on the party’s events page or social media.
At one of Tuesday’s Victoria events, Doerkson stood alongside Conservative Oak Bay-Gordon Head candidate and developer Stan Sipos and committed to repealing Bill 44, one of the core elements of Eby’s housing plan that removed zoning restrictions on small multi-unit housing developments like duplexes. This measure has been projected to create almost 300,000 middle-class homes over 10 years. Repealing Bill 44 is nowhere to be found in Doerkson’s 71-page platform.
This approach follows Doerkson’s secret letter to personal injury lawyers promising to let them cash in again and that “everything is on the table.” Doerkson has refused to answer basic questions about how much car insurance will cost under his plan.
Every day, British Columbians are learning more about what a Conservative government would look like: selling them out to private interests and making everyone else pay the price, the BC NDP said.
