Stand Up Against Profiling Donors and Stop The Slate

History informs us that political profiling doesn't require state surveillance to discourage participation. It happens when citizens who take part in politics lawfully see their names, jobs, families, and friends are targeted in public.

In this election cycle, past donor disclosure lists are again being compiled into spreadsheets and shared on community forums by some familiar local commentators. A common tactic is connection mapping, where a resident's family, coworkers, and friends get publicized alongside their name, usually to imply some hidden backroom deal.

Donation disclosure matters, and voters have every right to know who funds campaigns, and publishing a contribution is completely fair. Speculating about someone's family and personal life goes well beyond that. When people see this, they realize a legal contribution could bring online gossip and unwanted attention, and some will choose to stay out of our democratic process entirely. Ordinary residents get reduced to a label and held up as proof of a conspiracy, when most are just neighbours who care about their community.

In 2017, British Columbia recognized that donations from organized interests could create a real or perceived conflict of interest. Following a review, the province banned corporate and union donations, limiting political contributions to individuals only. Eliminating business and union cheques was the right call to help restore public confidence.

Yet the suspicion remains. This online profiling is a clear case of supporters following their leader, mirroring the tactics of Port Moody Voice mayoralty candidate Haven Lurbiecki, who spent much of her early months on council scrutinizing and questioning the occupations of people who donated to her colleagues. Following that template, these critics continue to treat select individual donations as proof that an elected official can be bought. Levelling such a serious accusation over a legal, publicly disclosed contribution shows that cynicism still runs incredibly high, regardless of the rules.

Campaigns need money and volunteers. Nobody should be treated like a conspirator for going to an event, volunteering, or making a lawful donation.

If these profiling tactics don't scare you off, please consider supporting the independent candidates who don't profile individual donors.