CTV News Reality Check: Legislated funding, not a ‘rigged election’ in B.C. [Video]

On the day he spoke to one of his largest audiences to date, the leader of the BC Conservatives made an exceptionally misleading statement around a well-publicized funding model for political parties that’s been in place since 2018.

John Rustad told mayors, councillors and other delegates at the annual Union of BC Municipalities convention that he would provide $1 billion a year in funding for new sewer and water infrastructure, reiterated his plans to eliminate the carbon tax, and expanded on his public safety strategy, but it was his press conference with journalists afterward that raised eyebrows.

“The NDP have rigged the election rules, they actually have given themselves a $2 per vote subsidy for every vote they got in the last election, every year,” he said in response to a question about how he planned to campaign against the NDP.

It’s true that the BC New Democrats collect $1.81 for every valid vote received in the last general election – but so does every other …