The new BC Government's amendments to ban big money from politics is getting mixed reviews. David Moscrop is an SFU Political Scientist and a columnist for Macleans Magazine.
Says the new rules will prove a good thing in the long run -- but right now voters will be feeling betrayed on 2 counts.
Moscrop says Premier John Horgan promised to put any elections act changes to an independent commission, and that isn't happening now:
" In fact, the thing that irritates me the most is that they were going to farm this out to a commission. By the way, I thought that was a stupid idea. But they made a promise, and now they've broken their promise."
Moscrop adds taxpayers may also be angered by having to pay the parties an annual allowance for the next 5 years to help wean them off the unlimited corporate, union and individual donations they've become used to. But Moscrop says it's really short term pain for long term gain:
" It's a little bit irritating, it's unexpected. But it's temporary and it's going to lead to a much better system than we currently have. So I can live with it."
With an allowance both the NDP and Liberals would receive just over $8-million dollars over 5 years, while the Green party would get 3.4 million.