Falcon dismisses conflict accusation

B.C. Liberal leadership candidate Kevin Falcon makes no apologies for a political pitch made by one of his supporters.

The CEO of the eyewear company Clearly Contacts has been emailing customers, urging them to support Falcon's leadership bid.

But one customer, Greg Lightbourn, of Garden Bay, says personal informationhe gaveto order contact lenses online should not be used for political purposes.

"I felt that that was a little bit of a misuse of my email address"

Lightbourn acknowledged to CBC News that he is no fan of Kevin Falcon or the B.C. Liberals. He did not say if he woulddisapprove if an NDP leadership candidate had been endorsed in the same way.

But such political use of personal information by either party is inappropriate, said Darrell Evans of the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association.

"It's a clear and a very blatant violation of B.C.'s Personal Information Protection Act," Evans said.

NDP appalled

Kevin Falcon says he had nothing to do with the Clearly Contactscampaign and anyone who doesn't want to receive the email shouldcomplain to the company.

"I mean, I get things in my inbox all the time that I'm deleting," Falcon said.

B.C. NDP leader Dawn Black noted that the company benefitted from a change Falcon made as health minister that made it easier to sell contact lenses online.

"I think it's appalling," said Black. "It's clearly a conflict and if Kevin Falcon has any integrity he will disavow this. He will ask this company to rescind this email and he will speak out clearly that this isinappropriate, wrong and he will fix it."

But Falcon dismissed the idea there is any conflict.

"The fact that I have supporters in the business community that are out there generating support for my candidacy should not come as a big surprise," he said. "I am a big believer in growing our economy and creating an economy that is going to attract jobs, investment and secure families's futures."