Duo promises to reveal major donors

Two city council candidates have vowed to disclose the names of all large donors to their campaigns and to not use voter data obtained from any political party to target supporters.

By Whitehorse Star on September 25, 2018

Two city council candidates have vowed to disclose the names of all large donors to their campaigns and to not use voter data obtained from any political party to target supporters.

Jan Stick and Steve Roddick said Monday they’re leading the charge on trust and transparency in municipal government.

They have published a campaign commitment on their website aimed at improving accountability measures in local elections.

“At present, this election has candidates who are well connected with local businesses, developers, resource companies and political parties that may have an interest in municipal decisions,” Stick and Roddick said in a joint statement.

“And yet, in municipal elections across Yukon, there are absolutely zero requirements for candidates to declare where they are receiving donations from: candidates can collect any amount of money, from anyone, anywhere – and are not obligated to disclose a dime.”

In addition to the lack of transparency rules around fundraising and spending, Stick and Roddick targeted election rules around data privacy and use of third party lists.

“Almost a third of all declared city council candidates were either candidates or staff for one political party or another during the last territorial election,” the two candidates said.

“Do these candidates have access to the voter data collected by their respective political parties? And, if so, how do we know whether or not this data is being used to strategically target supporters?”

The two have promised to disclose the names of everyone who donates $250 or more to their campaigns.

The donor names and amounts of all large donations, along with a tally of the number and size of all donations received, will be published online and updated weekly.

Stick – a former NDP MLA – and Roddick have also vowed to refrain from using voter data obtained from any political party to target supporters.

Instead, they’re building a base of support by meeting supporters at their doorsteps, and at events throughout the community.

The two are challenging the three mayoral and 16 other council candidates to make the same commitments to voters.

Comments (5)

Up 3 Down 0

Darrell Hookey on Sep 30, 2018 at 10:00 am

I accept your challenge: My entire budget of $1,000 was paid by my wife and I. I should point out that nobody offered me money, nor did I ask for any.

Up 28 Down 5

My Opinion on Sep 26, 2018 at 9:12 am

Hey Jan and Steve! Liberal Bad, Conservative Bad, You Good right..... Really???? You yourself (Jan) ran for the NDP. What are you talking about?

So you want to protect peoples personal Data but you will publicize the names of your contributors? What about the protection of their Data and their privacy? If I voted for you I sure wouldn't want anyone to know. So I won't. There you go, problem solved.

Up 24 Down 3

Yukoner99 on Sep 25, 2018 at 10:10 pm

NDP candidates promise not to use NDP database? hahah good one. On a side note, I really hope they don't get elected. The housing crisis in Whitehorse will only get worse if they do. They will try to protect as much land as they can around the city. These two are definitely the NIMBY candidates of the election. NDP = No Development Party

Up 16 Down 1

Ilove Parks on Sep 25, 2018 at 5:13 pm

I want to know who and how much is contributed to the mayor's campaign.

Up 26 Down 7

Ginger Johnson on Sep 25, 2018 at 3:54 pm

HUH ?

People actually make donations to City Council candidates who all seem
to be from the same pool of bland mediocrity ?

Whitehorse Daily Star