Surrey Connect recipient of “illegal support” from Keep the RCMP in Surrey, alleges Surrey Forward

One of the many images that Surrey Forward is sending to Elections BC.

SURREY Forward on Wednesday alleged that Surrey Connect is receiving direct contributions from the Keep The RCMP in Surrey, a third party advertiser.

“The election laws in British Columbia are clear: third party advertisers cannot collude nor sponsor elector associations,” said Surrey Forward.

“This is simply unacceptable,” said Stephen Carter, Campaign Manager for Surrey Forward. “The Local Election Campaign Financing Act is very clear, a third party advertiser such as Keep the RCMP in Surrey, must operate INDEPENDENTLY from the candidates or elector association.”

Surrey Connect said: “What is worse, it appears that all the signatures collected by Keep The RCMP in Surrey have been shared, either formally or informally, with Surrey Connect.”

Carter said: “There are no circumstances where this type of collusion is appropriate. If Surrey Connect cannot be trusted to run a campaign, what can they be trusted with?”

“Complaints will be filed with Elections BC. These complaints will name Keep The RCMP in Surrey, Surrey Connect, Brenda Locke and Ramona Kaptyn. It is our expectation that the investigation and consequences will be applied prior to October 15,” said Surrey Connect.

(The allegations have yet to be proven. Both Locke and Keep The RCMP in Surrey have refuted the allegations in comments to the media.)

 

 

Background: Legislation Dictating Independence

Part 3, Division 1, Paragraph 31

(1)  Subject to this section, an individual or organization must not sponsor third party advertising on behalf of or together with a candidate or elector organization in relation to the election campaign of the candidate or elector organization. (emphasis added)

It is more even more clearly articulated in the Guide for Local Elections Third Party Sponsors in BC (page 3):

Third Party Sponsor: An individual or organization who sponsors or intends to sponsor election advertising independently from the election campaign of any candidate or elector organization. (emphasis added)

Again on page 12:

Registered third party sponsors must be independent from the election campaigns of candidates and elector organization. This means a third party sponsor must not conduct third party advertising on behalf of, or together with, a candidate or elector organization. A third party sponsor and a candidate or elector organization cannot coordinate their advertising campaigns. (emphasis added)

Finally, the penalties for failing to comply with independence requirements are significant. Each offence is subject to a monetary penalty of up to $10,000. (page 38 of the guide)