Liberal MLA calling on B.C. government to donate money raised from golf fundraiser to residents affected by B.C. wildfires

The provincial government has been handing out as much as $1200 for each person and $1500 for each business affected by B.C.’s worst ever wildfire season.

On Tuesday, Liberal MLA for Nechako Lakes John Rustad called on the government to do more, including donating the money raised by an upcoming golf fundraiser with Premier John Horgan.

“You know, when lots of people are in need and when our province is under a state of emergency, it says something,” Rustad said.

“It’s the longest state of emergency B.C. has seen. This is the worst fire season on record in British Columbia, it’s burning the largest area. We’ve had the largest fires on record, and you need to be taking that seriously and thinking about the people who have been impacted by these areas.”

Premier Horgan came under fire earlier this summer for a $500-a-head golf fundraiser at Bear Mountain Resort with Education Minister Rob Fleming, despite promising to do away with these sort of events during the election campaign.

Rustad added that the BC Liberals haven’t held any fundraisers during this wildfire season, and don’t plan to.

NDP MLA Bruce Ralston defends the fundraiser saying “it’s open to any individual, if they want to give to the Red Cross and support people in B.C. who were affected by the B.C. wildfires.”