VANCOUVER—Provincial politics got testy Thursday as the BC Liberal Party called out the NDP for getting “cosy” with union executives at a party fundraiser.

The fundraiser, held at a Burnaby casino restaurant, saw Minister of Labour Harry Bains co-host a $125 dinner with BC Federation of Labour executives Susanne Skidmore and Laird Cronk.

Jas Johal, BC Liberal MLA for Richmond-Queensborough, said it’s hypocritical to see the NDP raise money with the help of unions while touting its success in banning unions from making large political donations.

“The NDP had talked about cleaning up politics in regards to corporate and union intervention. You’re seeing a very cosy relationship particularly with the NDP and the labour movement,” he said.

Documents from the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists show that over the past year, the BC Federation of Labour has met multiple times with BC NDP politicians and staff.

“The fundraiser is technically legal; there’s nothing wrong with that,” said Johal. “But when they said they’re going to separate corporations and unions and take them out of politics, you don’t expect them to be hosting a fundraiser for the minister of labour.”

Both the BC NDP and the BC Federation of Labour declined interview requests ahead of the fundraiser Thursday. However, the NDP fired back at Johal and the Liberals for not banning corporate and union donations during the 16 years the Liberals were in power and for hosting $500-per-plate dinners at golf clubs.

“John Horgan’s first act as premier was banning big money to make government work for regular, hardworking people again,” the party said in a statement attributed to president Craig Keating.

“While (BC Liberal Party Leader) Andrew Wilkinson fundraises from wealthy donors at the Point Grey Golf and Country Club, we’re proud to represent working British Columbians and we’re grateful for the support we receive from them.”

BC Elections documents show that in April 2018 and February 2019, Wilkinson hosted fundraisers at the elite venue where ticket prices ranged from $50 to $500 each, raising a combined total of $60,975.

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