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No limits on election spending this year

Political spending ramps up as candidates seek donations

Whistler's election candidates are canvassing the community for donations to fuel their campaign spending but how much they raise or spend may not matter come ballot time.

If history is anything to go by, it's not how much candidates spend that counts in the minds of Whistler voters.

In the last three municipal elections the top campaign spenders - Dave Davenport's $27,000 in 2002, Ted Nebbeling's $40,000 in 2005 and Kristi Wells' $20,000 in 2008 - didn't secure the mayor's seat.

In the last two cases Ken Melamed spent half as much and won.

The same was true for council contenders. In the 2005 election Marianne Wade was the biggest spender for a council seat at $6,500. She did not win.

In the 2008 election Jack Compton topped out at $7,000. He too did not win.

Though Whistler's track record may say different, election spending can be critical in a campaign.

"It doesn't always matter (how much you spend)," said Simon Fraser University political science Professor Patrick Smith. "But I think it's fair to say that it often matters."

Smith estimates that $13 million was spent by municipal parties and candidates across B.C. three years ago. That doesn't include the money spent by third parties.

In Vancouver candidates and parties spent $5.5 million. In Quesnel, a town of 10,000 people, candidates each spent about $20,000 for the mayor's run.

Usually advertising is one of the ways to get names into the minds of voters.

In small communities however people often know the candidates personally or through their work in other organizations.

"Money may not be the biggest factor in somebody that has a fairly long history of involvement," said Smith.

Still, tens of thousands of dollars will be spent in the community in the next five weeks as the political machine moves into full force in advance of November's election.

New mayoral candidate Brent McIvor said this week that he won't be accepting any donations, but will be relying heavily on social media to get his name, and his message, out to voters.

"I've always had a problem with money being given to candidates," adding that candidates don't have to disclose that donation information until March 2012, six months after the polls close.

"I'm passionate about that," said McIvor. "I just don't think in today's world, with the temptation of cronyism, that we accept that any longer."

He's not the only one.

Last year a provincial task force examining municipal elections called for a cap on how much money can be spent.

"It's a beginning," said Smith.

"I would describe it as an airplane with one wing."

He is referring to the task force recommending a limit spending but putting no limits on campaign contributions to municipal campaigns.

"We have the least regulated electoral system in Canada," said Smith.

In the past, big contributors in Whistler include: the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) with a $3,000 to Melamed in 2005. Whistler Blackcomb also chipped in with $1,000.

At the same time, Nebbeling was collecting money from some big development companies: $2,000 from Cressey, $1,000 from Bosa, $2,500 from Cardinal Concrete. Whistler Blackcomb also gave $1,000.

In the most recent election, when campaign spending by the mayors was down overall, Wells named her top three contributors as: Tom Horler, at the time owner of the McDonald's franchises in Whistler and Pemberton, Clifftop Contracting Ltd. and O & R Entertainment, the company behind Maxx Fish, Amsterdamn Café, La Bocca and Le Brasserie. Each gave $2,000.

Melamed named Whistler Blackcomb and two family members who each gave $1,000.

"The other thing that is a truism is that one of the most consistent contributors to municipal elections are broadly people that can be described as in the property and development business," said Smith.

Smith said campaign contribution information should be online and updated continuously in advance at an election.

"It's actually a deliberate attempt to thwart public accountability," he said. "I think it's a major flaw.

"The president of North Korea could contribute $5 million to a campaign and the only thing that would happen is that six months later the person would have to disclose that they got it."

The province will be moving ahead with legislation to change some of the election rules but it won't be in place until 2014. That includes setting expense limits, banning anonymous contributions, and filing disclosure forms within 90 days of the election.

The changes come from 31 recommendations from the Local Government Elections Task Force, a joint endeavour by the province and the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM).

Due to the tight timeline and the complexity of the changes, the legislation has not been changed for the 2011 election.

"We understand UBCM and some local governments may be disappointed that these changes won't be in place for this year's elections," said Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Ida Chong in a press release. "However, our highest priority must be to help ensure local elections run smoothly, without confusion, and that all participants have an opportunity to understand and follow the rules. We also heard concerns that it was too late to proceed with changes of this magnitude during an election year as campaign activities are already underway. This decision gives all those involved in local elections the time required for these changes to be implemented successfully."