Kevin Action, the mayor of Lumby, B.C., and a former B.C. United candidate, is suing the struggling provincial party to have it reimburse him $10,765.39 in out-of-pocket campaign expenses.
“I have incurred expenses on behalf of B.C. United as a candidate. They have not yet reimbursed me nor have been [in] contact to make arrangements to reimburse for the outstanding balance,” Acton said in a handwritten notice filed Monday in Vernon small claims court.
Acton was nominated as the B.C. United Candidate in Vernon-Lumby during last year’s provincial election. In August, party Leader Kevin Falcon announced the suspension of the campaign, citing party fundraising difficulties before throwing his support to the B.C. Conservative Party. Acton ran as an Independent and placed third in the election.
His claim only covers expenses incurred as a B.C. United candidate.
B.C. United Party finances unclear
In a statement of claim filed in court, Acton writes, “The fact these expenses have not yet been repaid could put myself and the B.C. United Party in Contravention of the B.C. Elections Act.”
Elections B.C. confirmed with CBC News that the Election Act does not require political parties to reimburse candidates for election expenses.
The deadline for filing 2024 election campaign finances expired last Friday and will be published on the Elections B.C. website the week of Jan. 27.
Elections B.C. can deregister political parties for failure to file financial reports by deadline. However, it says this is not the case for B.C. United.
“B.C. United was not represented by any candidates in the election, and they did not sponsor any campaign period election advertising … they are not required to file an EFR (election financing report) for the 2024 provincial election,” it said in an emailed statement.
Quarterly interim financial reports are due Jan. 30, and annual reports by March 30.
When B.C. United pulled the plug on its campaign in late summer, it didn’t officially disband the party. Now, as Katie DeRosa reports, Leader Kevin Falcon is quietly soliciting donations to prevent the party from declaring bankruptcy and collapsing entirely.
In December, CBC News, citing an internal party document, reported B.C. United owes $930,000 to various vendors and some former candidates. The party has been quietly fundraising to avoid bankruptcy.
Elections B.C. states bankruptcy would not trigger involuntary deregistration.
Former MLA hopes to build back
Former Liberal MLA Karin Kirkpatrick has maintained membership in the B.C. United party and insists it can survive.
“I really would like to bring the party back because I think we need a centre party,” Kirkpatrick says. “There are people in British Columbia who want to see a centre party and are willing to write cheques for that.”
Kirkpatrick, furious over Falcon’s campaign suspension, ran as an Independent candidate in West Vancouver-Capilano in the 2024 election and claims to have raised more than $60,000.
She’s calling on former candidates and members to be patient rather than file lawsuits.
“I just think it would be better to see how people can work with the party to make sure that we still have money. It still has money coming in, and it’s more likely for people to be reimbursed,” she said.
“The problem, I would say, like for Kevin [Acton], nobody’s talked to him. He doesn’t know how much money is there.”
CBC News requested an interview with the Lumby mayor but did not receive a reply. Calls to the B.C. United Party were not returned.
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