Premier David Eby spent $338,173 on his campaign for the BC NDP leadership, which never resulted in a membership vote following the disqualification of his only challenger Anjali Appadurai.
An Elections BC report released Jan. 24 shows Eby raised $383,570 worth of political contributions.
Key expenses included just over $90,000 on professional services; over $76,000 on salaries and benefits for his employees; about $45,600 on subscriptions and dues; over $35,500 on advertising; and close to $17,000 on research, surveys and polls.
In comparison, BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon spent $1.078 million on his race, overshooting the party’s spending limit by nearly half a million dollars.
Eby received 330 donations greater than $250 and 718 donations less than $250.
Eby is in receipt of money from many MLAs and prominent donors.
The single most identifiable group of donors is fellow MLAs, with 33 of 57 donating to Eby, including 22 who donated over $1,000 each. Combined, BC NDP MLAs contributed close to $36,000.
Contributing about $1,300 each were environmental venture capitalist Joel Solomon and former Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart.
Joy MacPhail, NDP-appointed BC Ferries board chair who introduced Eby at his swearing-in ceremony last November, donated $300; while fellow NDP stalwart Moe Sihota chimed in with $1,200.
Union lobbyist Bill Tieleman donated $500 and frequent government-appointed mediator Vince Ready donated $800.
Former Vancouver city councillor Raymond Louie, now chief operating officer at Coromandel Properties, donated $500 while five De Cotiis family members, who own Onni Group, Pinnacle International and Amacon development firms, combined for over $6,000 in donations.
Bai Jiping, chairman of Phantom Creek Winery, donated $1,300. Jiping joined the Chinese Canadian Society for Political Engagement to promote candidates in last October’s municipal election.
