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A second subsidy, an annual operating grant to parties based on votes cast in the last election, extends a full year beyond the scheduled date for the next election. The estimated payout for the first five years is $20 million and it could be extended indefinitely on the recommendation of a legislature committee.

Horgan further characterized the projected payout as “a modest cost to taxpayers in the grand scheme of things.” Only two months in the premier’s office, and he’s already gained a government perspective on $30 million.

Despite Horgan’s insistence that he would “own up” for what he said before the election, he struggled with the that-was-then, this-is-now aspect of the reversal.

For he not only promised to send the issue of party financing to an independent commission, he mocked and scorned suggestions that taxpayer subsidies were in his mind all along.

Take the scene in the NDP caucus room back in February, when Horgan laid out the model legislation that became the NDP platform on reform the electoral process.

He was asked point blank about the accusation from then Premier Christy Clark that he would soon be tapping the provincial treasury to fund his party and others.

“It’s always alternative facts with the premier,” said Horgan, full of sanctimony. “The premier in all of her distortions — she said my preference was taxpayers pay for political parties. That’s just not the case. It is up to the independent head of elections B.C. and the committee that will be struck to take a look at all the options and bring forward the best one for B.C.”