Review into Possible Political Contributions Closed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2022

VICTORIA – Elections BC has closed its review into possible political contributions from Dogwood BC to Anjali Appadurai’s campaign. The review has been closed following the BC NDP’s decision to disqualify Anjali Appadurai, and not approve her as a party leadership contestant.

The review was initiated after complaints were received alleging that Dogwood BC’s activities in the BC NDP leadership race may constitute in-kind political contributions under the Election Act. The Act requires approved leadership contestants to only accept political contributions from eligible individuals, and file financing reports with Elections BC. The Act further prohibits organizations from making political contributions, in-kind or otherwise, to approved leadership contestants.

Elections BC is closing its review because Anjali Appadurai did not become an approved leadership contestant. A political party must approve a leadership contestant for the Election Act’s campaign finance rules to apply to their campaign. This means that the activities of Dogwood BC in relation to the Anjali Appadurai campaign were not regulated by the Election Act. This also means that Anjali Appadurai is not required to file a leadership contestant financing report with Elections BC.

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Contact:
Andrew Watson
Director, Communications
Elections BC
Phone: 250-387-1709
Email: Andrew.Watson@elections.bc.ca
Website: www.elections.bc.ca

Elections BC is the independent, non-partisan Office of the Legislature responsible for administering electoral processes in B.C. under provincial legislation including the Election Act, Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, Recall and Initiative Act and Referendum Act.