Lali rips B.C. NDP campaign rules

New Democrat leadership candidate Harry Lali says his party's new spending and membership rules governing the race to replace Carole James are ridiculous and unaffordable.

Lali ripped the new rules issued by New Democratic Party brass Friday, saying they could result in declared candidates quitting the race because they can't afford the $15,000 entry fee.

He also said the new rules that require new party memberships be delivered electronically only to NDP headquarters days before the Jan. 17 sign-up deadline are unreasonable.

'Who is it that the party does not want to run for leader?' B.C. NDP MLA Harry Lali

"We are the New Democratic Party of British Columbia, not the Republican Party of the United States of America with candidates for leader spending hundreds of millions of dollars on their campaigns," said a statement issuedby Lali from his hometown of Merritt in the B.C. Interior.

He said the party first decided to give very little time for new members sign-ups and now, with three days left for sign-ups, "wants to hamstring candidates" by insisting mass sign-ups be entered into spreadsheets.

"This is ridiculous to say the least," Lali said in the statement.

Financial barriers

Lali alsoreferred to a rulerequiring candidates to contribute 50 per cent of the money their campaigns raise to the party.He initially said the $15,000 entry fee means the candidate actually has to come up with $30,000, because half of the money goes back to the party.

However, Lali issued a statement later Friday saying his initial remarks were incorrect, and candidates do not have to share half the money their campaigns raise with the party.

He apologized for the confusion and said he offered his regrets to the party's provincial secretary.

However, Lali maintained the rules could result in MLA Nicholas Simons or pot activist Dana Larsen leaving the race because they may not be able to raise the money.

When reached for comment Friday, Simons said he found the entry fee steep.

"It's higher than I expected, I'll admit that," he said. "If somehow financial barriers prevented me from being in the race I would be disappointed. What's needed right now for the public and our party is to hear a diversity of views."

Simons did not specify if he would be able to come up with the money needed to enter the race.

B.C. Liberal Party leadership candidates will be able to outspend the NDP candidates by $275,000.

The B.C. NDP set campaign spending limits at $175,000 for the candidates seeking to replace Carole James as party leader on April 17. The spending limit does not include the $15,000 entrance fee.

The B.C. Liberals, who are also in the middle of a campaign to replace Premier Gordon Campbell as party leader next month, set their campaign spending limits earlier at $450,000.

Registration deadline Feb. 28

Joining Lali, Simons and Larsen in the NDP race are, MLA's Mike Farnworth and John Horgan.

Vancouver New Democrat MLA Adrian Dix is expected to announce his candidacy on Monday.

The new NDP campaign rules also require each candidate to provide nomination signatures of 250 NDP members. The nominations must include at least 10 signatures from party members who are from the province's regional areas.

The official nomination deadline is Feb. 28.

The individual donation limit is $2,500 and all donations over $250 must be made public prior to the April 17 vote for the new NDP leader.

The entry fee for the Liberal race is $25,000 for each candidate. Six people are in the Liberal race: former cabinet ministers Moira Stilwell, George Abbott, Kevin Falcon and Mike de Jong, along with former Liberal cabinet minister, turned radio host Christy Clark and former Parksville mayor Ed Mayne.

The Liberals will elect a new party leader and premier on Feb. 26.