Trailing the opposition New Democrats badly in recent polls, the B.C. Liberals have purchased a half-hour of TV air time April 14 for Premier Christy Clark and supporters to plead their case to voters.
鈥淭his program will kick off our campaign by talking in detail about the plans and vision Today鈥檚 B.C. Liberals will be sharing with British Columbians,鈥� Liberal campaign director Mike McDonald said in a statement. 鈥淲ith all the economic risk surrounding B.C., it鈥檚 never been more important that leaders provide straightforward, direct information to voters.鈥�
Clark and 鈥渆veryday British Columbians, and B.C. community leaders鈥� will appear in the 鈥淪trong Economy. Secure Tomorrow鈥� program airing April 14 at 7 p.m. on Global TV, according to the release. The show will be available for viewing online throughout the 28-day election period.
NDP MLA and former leader Carole James called the TV spot an 鈥渋nteresting approach.鈥�
鈥淭he Liberals have been using taxpayer dollars to advertise for the last number of months,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not surprising to me that they鈥檇 need a half an hour, because if you take a look at the jobs numbers and the jobs plan, I think the premier has a lot of explaining to do.鈥�
On Monday, James鈥檚 party will broadcast a new 鈥減ositive鈥� TV ad featuring leader Adrian Dix espousing his party鈥檚 clean brand of politics and aim to 鈥渂ring people back to the political process.鈥�
The Liberal show is airing just days before the official election campaign begins and far stricter rules on advertising kick in. Under the provincial Election Act, registered political parties can spend up to $1.1 million each before the official campaign kicks off on April 16. The election will be on May 14.
During the 28-day campaign, they may spend up to $4.4 million each 鈥� which includes buying lawn signs, TV ads, campaign materials and 鈥渞obo-calling鈥� potential voters.
The Liberals amassed a war chest of $10.1 million in donations during 2012, according to documents released Friday. Half of that came from corporations, the documents show, while about one-third came from donations from individuals.
In a note to supporters, party officials called it the party鈥檚 鈥渕ost successful fundraising effort in a non-election year.鈥� The B.C. Liberals noted that fundraising continues, including on Monday night with the Premier鈥檚 Dinner at the 91原创 Convention Centre.
New Democratic Party documents also released Friday show that party raised $6.9 million last year. Of that, $1.6 million came from trade unions, $4 million came from individuals and just under $1 million came from corporations.
The B.C. Conservative Party said in its disclosure that it took in just over $250,000 last year. The Green party was granted an extension to file its report, with Elections B.C. citing 鈥渆xtenuating circumstances.鈥�
The numbers for both major parties are significantly higher than they were in 2008, before the last provincial election. In that year, the Liberals raised $7.9 million, while the New Democrats raised $2.9 million.
