West Kelowna's Ben Stewart is Out of the BC Liberal caucus

[DarbyD]

Interesting, didn't see this coming!

https://thebreaker.news/news/ben-stewart-out/
August 1, 2019
Bob Mackin
EXCLUSIVE: Kelowna West’s Ben Stewart is out of the BC Liberal caucus.
theBreaker.news understands there was an emergency conference call for caucus members in which they were informed that the MLA in the BC Liberal stronghold has departed because of a matter related to an Elections BC investigation that involves a donation from his constituency assistant.

Stewart’s departure means the BC Liberals are down to 41 seats, the same as the governing NDP, which has the support of the three Green MLAs in a confidence and supply agreement that helped topple the BC Liberals in June 2017.

[stuphoto]

That is too bad,
Although I don't agree with his party, I do think that he is one of the better politicians in the province, and does what he thinks is right.
I hope he runs as an independent.

[Urbane]

Good for Ben Stewart. He's an honest and honourable man so I'm not at all surprised that he did the right thing to voluntarily step away from the Liberal caucus while Elections BC investigates the issue.

[voice of reason]

is he stepping aside so christy clark can have his seat again

[stuphoto]

is he stepping aside so christy clark can have his seat again

Although I disagree with his decision there, I still think he was doing what he thought was the best thing for the province.

[westbankkid]

What has Ben Stewart done that he has to resign the Liberal Party till it is settled. Sounds quite serious. Hs constituents need to know..

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/2 ... ves-caucus

[voice of reason]

he is probably stepping aside so christy can have his seat again

[westbankkid]

he is probably stepping aside so christy can have his seat again

I sure as hell hope not. lol

[goalie]

Well he's an honorable man according to the article....lol

[voice of reason]

Well he's an honorable man according to the article....lol

quails gate probably paid for an article on okanagan edge for ben stewart to get that glowing article about their owner

[csm]

Well he's an honorable man according to the article....lol

He is a politician - there is no such thing as being "Honorable" in that arena - it's a term they themselves "coined" to fool the public into thinking that's what they are - "Honest".

[spooker]

he is probably stepping aside so christy can have his seat again

He's just leaving the Liberals ... not his seat in the assembly ... he'll be an independant like Plecas is for now ...

The investigation seems to be about campaign financing (surprise?)

[oneh2obabe]

Being discussed here viewtopic.php?f=26&t=82737

[Symbonite]

sounds like a whole lot of nothing anyways...or you would have the NDP all over it for sure...and its a smart move...go as independent and the NDP wont have anything to say like "calls for resignation" "how dare the Liberals let him continue" etc etc.

probably some audit...thats about it...

[flamingfingers]

And as for this 'individual (that) is pursuing it', what, exactly, is that all about?

Mr. Shaw has more:

...Stewart stepped away from caucus last week after a constituency assistant complained to Elections B.C., alleging being forced to donate approximately $1,225 on Stewart’s behalf to the B.C. Liberal Party. That amount is near the personal maximum under B.C.’s new donation law, also described as the top-tier “Founders’ Club” level for B.C. Liberal Party members...


Hmmmmm...

So, a staffer to Stewart complains to Elections BC about being forced to make a donation to the BC Liberals on Stewart's behalf and then, suddenly, Mr. Stewart acts 'voluntarily'.

Sure thing.

But here's the real question...

Who 'forced' the staffer to make the donation in the first place given the following:

...The B.C. Liberal Party confirmed Thursday it had refunded the donation in March after the constituency assistant contacted the party and asked for the money back...


Gosh.

Kinda seems like maybe there was very little at all that was truly voluntary in this entire process.

http://pacificgazette.blogspot.com/