Who would ever have thought that a single political donor could have disclosed so much about the sorry state of affairs surrounding money and politics in B.C.
In what they now call a “learning experience,” TRIUMF – Canada's nuclear physics laboratory located at the University of British Columbia – finally acknowledged last week that it wasn't the most prudent of moves to make $3,370 in political donations to the B.C. Liberal party over the past three years.
It also contravened the B.C. Election Act for the Liberal party to accept these donations, since TRIUMF is a registered charity. And because of that, this past week, Elections B.C. advised the Liberals that these donations “must be returned” to TRIUMF.

But what makes this tale even more remarkable is what TRIUMF said publicly to justify their donations in the first place.

An Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Pacific Carbon Trust¹ shows that a solid majority of British Columbians support their provincial government taking a variety of actions on climate change.

British Columbians want to see their provincial government take an active role, with seven-in-ten (72%) agreeing with the statement that “the BC government should continue to take an active role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fighting climate change.” Only 8% of British Columbians disagree with this statement.

April 19, 2012

Dear Premier Clark,

Your government has not spoken out for or against the Northern Gateway pipeline proposed by Enbridge Inc., rather preferring to wait until the National Energy Review Board process is complete. I am writing to you today to explain that unfortunately the current Northern Gateway environmental and public interest process is flawed, and as a result the public interest of B.C. is not protected.

The federal government, as I am sure you are aware, has publicly endorsed the project, stated it is in the national interest of Canada, and has systematically demonized individuals and groups who oppose the project. This behaviour has made a travesty of the necessary arm's length relationship between government and an independent regulatory body.