Burnaby’s Brian Bonney is still facing Election Act charges, but that’s not stopping the Canadian Taxpayers Federation from hiring the well-known Liberal organizer.
Bonney has been working on contract with the federation since 2013.
“I have nothing but positive things to say about working with him,” said Troy Lanigan, federation president and CEO.
According to Lanigan, Bonney is a fundraiser who solicits donations and visits contributors, explaining the federation’s work and campaigns.
Bonney’s ongoing court case stems from allegations that he and Mark Robertson, a Liberal Party staffer, made an illegal political contribution during the 2012 Port-Moody-Coquitlam provincial by-election. Court documents show Bonney and Robertson allegedly paid Sepideh Sarrafpour to work on the Liberal's campaign for candidate Dennis Marsden yet failed to disclose the payment. The two are now facing multiple counts of violating the Election Act, specifically the section relating to election financing.
“I think it’s embarrassing for him. I mean I’m sorry he’s having to go through that, and I’m sure he’d like to see a resolution to it soon,” Lanigan told the NOW. “In terms of the specific point involving Brian, it’s an issue of whether someone was paid or whether someone was a volunteer. I just think the amount of time and resources being put into investigating this question seems absurd to me. I don’t understand.”
The NOW called Bonney but did not hear back immediately.
