Bob Mackin
The B.C. NDP submitted $4,438,722.64 in expense claims to Elections BC after eking out a narrow victory in last October’s provincial election.
Under the NDP-amended Election Act, parties that receive at least 5% of province-wide votes can be reimbursed for up to 50% of eligible expenses after an election. Candidates are also eligible for the same 50% reimbursement, if they receive at least 10% of votes in their riding.
The NDP qualified for $2,219,361.32 in taxpayer funds. The Conservatives $2,537,137.37.
Premier David Eby’s party spent a total of almost $13.5 million, $4.15 million more than the Conservatives, who became the opposition party after spending $9.34 million.
Highlights of aggregate payments from the NDP’s 2024 election expense claim:
$1,770,979.14: for Now Communications Group, the party’s longtime ad agency. NDP campaign director Marie Della Mattia is Now’s former CEO. Her sister Michele is a partner and Now’s vice-president of operations.
$498,750: for Captus Advertising, agency that specializes in targeting Chinese and South Asian communities.
$266,800: for Level Hotels, the hospitality division of developer Onni. Locations in Yaletown, Downtown South, Richmond and Port Moody.
$234,132.65: for Mail-o-Matic Services full-service direct mail marketing.
$227,266.20: for Project X Productions, Ottawa-based event production and labour.
$97,894.35: for Facebook ads.
$84,493.50: for Victoria-based Mondial Aviation private jet charter.
$71,479.60: to Wilson’s Transportation, the motorcoach charter company that supplied Eby’s campaign bus. CEO John Wilson was a Conservative candidate in Esquimalt-Colwood.
$69,736.31: to Public Outreach Consultancy Inc., a Calgary agency that specializes in door-to-door, phone and digital fundraising.
$49,742.47: to CiviTech Textout text messages.
$39,342.09: for Viewpoints Research, Winnipeg-based polling firm.
$28,607.66: to Strategic Communications Inc., the NDP’s longtime Vancouver polling firm.
$12,302.85: for Data Sciences Inc., the Montreal agency run by Justin Trudeau’s digital campaign czar Tom Pitfield.
$5,931.75: for Airbnb accommodation.
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