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This Friday night at the Hotel Vancouver, a large crowd of deep-pocketed political movers and shakers will plunk down $525 apiece to hang out with Premier John Horgan and his key cabinet ministers.

The NDP fundraiser — dubbed “The Leader’s Levee”— will include “a standup dinner reception and not a formal plated meal,” according to the party’s website.

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Who would fork over that kind of cash to not even get a proper sit-down meal for their money?

Corporations, unions and lobbyists, that’s who. Paying $525 for a chance to bend the ear of the premier or a powerful cabinet minister is just the price of doing business _ and a cheap one, at that.

But the governing New Democrats insist these kind of cash-for-access shakedowns are coming to an end. In fact, Horgan calls this Friday’s event “the last supper.”

This week, the new government will introduce a long-promised bill to finally ban corporate and union donations to B.C. politicians and political parties. Donations by individuals will still be allowed, but will face a strict annual limit.