Saturday, August 10, 2019

The Curse Of Clarklandia's Ever Shrinking Coattails (ctd.)...

VoluntaryBeThyName
MrStewartVille


As first noted by Bob Mackin more than a week ago, Ben Stewart has left the BC Liberal caucus over a matter that apparently involves a donation from his constituency assistant.

Well, as the VSun's Rob Shaw noted Thursday, this process was, according to Mr. Stewart, all started by his voluntary actions:

...“It’s kind of a very small issue, but because the individual is pursuing it and sending around accusations along with that, it makes it very difficult,” Stewart said. “So I thought the best thing to do was approach Elections B.C. and get clarity.”

Stewart said he made the move out of an abundance of caution. “I haven’t seen or heard complaints directly. This is all voluntary.”..
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And as for this 'individual (that) is pursuing it', what, exactly, is that all about?

Mr. Shaw has more:

...Stewart stepped away from caucus last week after a constituency assistant complained to Elections B.C., alleging being forced to donate approximately $1,225 on Stewart’s behalf to the B.C. Liberal Party. That amount is near the personal maximum under B.C.’s new donation law, also described as the top-tier “Founders’ Club” level for B.C. Liberal Party members...


Hmmmmm...

So, a staffer to Stewart complains to Elections BC about being forced to make a donation to the BC Liberals on Stewart's behalf and then, suddenly, Mr. Stewart acts 'voluntarily'.

Sure thing.

But here's the real question...

Who 'forced' the staffer to make the donation in the first place given the following:

...The B.C. Liberal Party confirmed Thursday it had refunded the donation in March after the constituency assistant contacted the party and asked for the money back...


Gosh.

Kinda seems like maybe there was very little at all that was truly voluntary in this entire process.


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And note the date that the BCL braintrust paid the staffer back...March...As in five months ago compared to ten days ago when the emergency conference call that announced Mr. Stewart's step aside to caucus took place.


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5 comments:

North Van's Grumps said...

If MLA Ben Stewart is truly stepping away from the BC Liberal Party during these trying times, why, oh why is he on Facebook claiming otherwise Ben Stewart, BC Liberal MLA

RossK said...

'Cause, according to Mr. Stewart, the 'voluntary' is 'temporary'.

Or some such thing.

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Lew said...

The VS article says, “Stewart stepped away from caucus last week after a constituency assistant complained to Elections B.C....”

But the same article quotes Elections B.C. spokeswoman Rebecca Penz saying, “The matter was brought to our attention last Thursday when we received a letter from Ben Stewart in regards to political contributions to the B.C. Liberal Party,” and quotes Stewart as saying, “I haven’t seen or heard complaints directly. This is all voluntary.”

So the Sun says the assistant complained to Elections BC first, and Stewart responded.

Elections BC says it heard first from Stewart.

Stewart says he responded after hearing indirectly of complaints.

We need to hear directly from the assistant.

Chuckstraight said...

Ben Stewart and Christy Clark have cost the taxpayers of BC a lot of money with multiple by-elections needed to parachute after Clark was unelectable in Vancouver. Despite this, the folks of West Kelberta will continue to elect these bottom feeders.
Hopefully the truth will surface, exposing what has happened.

RossK said...

Lew--

Agreed, particularly given Mr. Stewart's reference to the 'individual' who 'is pursuing it'.

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Chuck--

Can't help but wonder if this really about what the braintrust of the party is up to rather than what is going on in Mr. Stewart's office.


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