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The federal government is poised to introduce legislation today that will put an end to exclusive, private fundraisers featuring cabinet ministers, party leaders and leadership contenders.

The Liberals have already adopted new rules requiring that all fundraisers featuring ministers be advertised in advance, conducted in publicly available places and open to the media. The party has promised to publicly disclose within 45 days the names of all those who attended and other details.

The new rules were put in place earlier this year after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was roasted for months last fall over his attendance at exclusive fundraisers in private homes, where wealthy individuals paid up to the maximum donation of $1,550 to rub shoulders with the prime minister.

Today's legislation will make those rules the law and extend them to opposition party leaders and all candidates for any party's leadership.

In the midst of controversy over so-called cash-for-access fundraisers, Trudeau says he was willing to consider other options for resolving the problem, including reducing the donation limit and reinstating the per-vote subsidy for political parties, thereby reducing their need to raise large sums of money.

However, Liberal insiders say those options have since been rejected in favour of simply requiring more transparency.

Trudeau signalled the introduction of such a bill in January, in the mandate letter given to his newly appointed democratic institutions minister, Karina Gould.

"Sunshine is the best disinfectant to concerns about our political process," he said in the letter.

He instructed Gould to "significantly enhance transparency for the public at large and media in the political fundraising system for cabinet members, party leaders and leadership candidates."

"Fundraisers should be conducted in publicly available spaces, advertised in advance and reported on in a timely manner after the fact."

During the 2015 election campaign, Trudeau promised to impose limits on how much money political parties can spend between elections, not just during campaigns. Reducing parties' expenditures would also lessen their need to focus so heavily on fundraising.

However, fulfilment of that promise is not expected to be included in today's bill.

Opposition parties have dismissed the Liberals' new fundraising rules as smoke and mirrors, arguing that having Trudeau and his ministers attend fundraisers whether open to the public or not still violates the prime minister's own ethical rules against appearing to give preferential access in return for donations.

They've also questioned the value of extending the same rules that apply to cabinet ministers to opposition leaders and leadership contenders, who are in no position to influence government policy.

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Liberals to introduce legislation banning private cash-for-access fundraisers - CBC.ca

Nearly $1 million in contributions were deposited into the B.C. Liberal partys bank account just three days after the May 9 election, reinforcing the perception that this province is the wild west when it comes to its unfettered political donations.

The most recent donors are the whos who of corporate B.C. with real-estate developers leading the way followed by construction and forestry companies, big oil, big banks and big law firms.

And, amid a slew of $25,000 donations, theres one from an unnumbered company. A corporate search turned up no information on the B.C.-registered company, not even a mailing address.

No doubt, Liberals are anxious to restock their campaign war chest before the new government rewrites legislation governing both contributions and campaign spending.

Campaign financing reform was one of the non-negotiable demands of the B.C. Green party, which holds the balance of power and has agreed to support a minority New Democratic Party government.

The other reason is that a government with a one-seat majority is at daily risk of toppling, despite the brave words from John Horgan and Andrew Weaver that their alliance is intended to last 4 years.

Its unlikely that the Liberals bank account was empty post election. By the end of 2016, it had already raised $7.6 million more than enough even with B.Cs unusually high spending limit of $4.9 million. Of course, individual candidates are also allowed to spend up to $77,675.

Still, its clear from the Liberals online donor disclosures that in the past month Christy Clarks party has been doing what it does best raising money.

May 12 was a bountiful day for the bank account, according to the Liberals disclosure for the week ending May 19. Just over $900,000 from 437 donors was deposited. Of those, 84 donors gave more than $1,000.

Seven of the 10 largest donations came from developers, led by Richmonds Rick Ilich at $100,000. Norman Cressey gave $75,000 in $25,000 increments through three numbered companies, while Wesgroup Properties (owned by the Weesik family) also donated $75,000.

Maple Ridge Plaza Properties gave $50,000 and three other developers donated $25,000 each BlueSky Properties, Bosa Properties and Reliance Properties. Shato Holdings gave $20,000.

Other notable donors are: law firms Fasken, Martineau, DuMoulin LLP and Farris, Vaughn, Wills and Murphy LLP, Seaspan, Neptune Terminals, Toronto-Dominion Bank, CIBC Head Office, Chevron Canada, Encana, Enbridge, Canadian Pacific Railways, Buron Healthcare (which runs care homes in partnership with Interior Health) and the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Association.

The following week, there were more deposits 856 in all. Most were under $100, which added up to roughly $60,000. The exception was a $5,000 donation from A&W Canada CEO Paul F.B. Hollands.

Its not clear whether these reported donations were made before or after the election. Party spokesman Emile Scheffel said contributions are only recorded by deposit date.

He noted in an email, All contributions we receive of more than $250 are reported to Elections B.C. as part of our Annual Financial Report and, if applicable, our Election Financing Report, which covers contributions deposited during the writ period up to and including May 9.

Aside from that reporting requirement, there is no rule about how much can be raised either during a campaign or between campaigns.

While the Liberals voluntarily disclose their donations online, the other parties dont. So, well have to wait to see how they fared in the money sweepstakes.

Still, what we do know is that as soon as the NDP forms government, it will likely put at least as much energy into ending 16 years of the Liberals pay-for-play system and reforming the election spending laws as it does raising money.

Exactly how theyll do that hasnt been determined. But it will be one of the first issues that the Green-backed New Democrats will tackle.

Meantime, it bears pointing out that for a political party to deposit a million bucks a few days after an election is impressive at anytime and especially following a defeat. But in the coming weeks, there may be fertile ground for the Liberals to raise even more among the free-enterprisers who are deeply suspicious of socialist New Democrats, let alone tree-hugging Greens.

Those fears were likely stoked with the release of the NDP and Greens ambitious and sweeping alliance agreement that includes: doing everything possible to stop construction of Kinder Morgans Trans Mountain pipeline expansion; a review of both Site C dam and a Massey tunnel replacement; increasing the carbon tax; potentially raising the minimum wage; and adding new social programs including $10-a-day child care.

That potential for raising even more money may help explain why Christy Clark is in no hurry to hand over government. Her decision to recall the legislature and force the alliance to defeat the Liberals in the legislature buys the party more time for fundraising.

It may also buy Clark time. Shes a superb fundraiser, a skill that may keep the knives of disaffected Liberals sheathed at least for the short term.

dbramham@postmedia.com

twitter.com/daphnebramham

B.C. Liberals contributions of $1,000 or more in the week ending May 19

AmountDonor

100,000Rick Ilich

75,000Norman Cressey (through three numbered companies)

75,000Wesgroup

50,000Maple Ridge Plaza Properties

30,000Burnco Rock Products

25,000BlueSky Properties

25,000Bosa Properties

25,000Reliance Properties

25,000318219 BC Ltd.

24,000Fasken, Martineau, DuMoulin LLP

20,000Laurmel Holdings Ltd

20,000Shato Holdings

15,000Progressive Waste Solutions Canada

15,000Seaspan ULC

15,000The Arrow Group of Companies

15,000The Toronto-Dominion Bank

10,000Pacific Customs Brokers Ltd

10,000Quantum Properties

10,000Landcor Data Corporation

10,000Lake Excavating

10,000James A Allard

10,000In Re Capital Inc.

10,000Farris Vaughan, Wills & Murphy

10,000Chevron Canada Limited

10,000Buron Healthcare Ltd.

10,000BC Professional Fire Fighters Assoc

9,875North Shore Studios Management Ltd

9,500Horizon Construction Management Ltd

8,500London Air Services Ltd

8,000Intracorp Projects Ltd

7,500Carrier Lumber

7,500Joey Restaurant Group

5,000BA Blacktop

5,000Bayshore Healthcare

5,000Berezan (Juniper) Entrerprises Ltd.

5,000Burke Mountain Ltd Partnership

5,000Canadian Pacific Railway

5,000Canoe Forest Products

5,000Cascade Aerospace Inc

5,000Chalk Hill Investments Ltd.

5,000CIBC Head Office

5,000 Downie Timber Ltd.

5,000Encana Corp Ltd.

5,000Gorman Brothers

5,000Inwest Investments Ltd.

5,000Kirmac Automotive Collision

5,000Neptune Terminals

5,000Pageant Holdings Ltd.

5,000Persis Holdings Ltd.

5,000Steve Evans

5,000Triple E Ventures

5,000Wesbild Holdings

4,000Steelhead LNG

4,000Harbour Air

4,000Centra Construction Group

3,500Barry Marsden

3,400Wazuku Advisory Group

2,500Progressive Holdings Ltd

2,500Arin Industries Inc

2,500Sharon E White Law Corp

2,000Geoffrey Cowper

2,000BC Fresh Vegetables Inc

1,800William B. Fox

1,750Boralex Inc

1,500Yaletown Brewing Co.

1,150Bobleeco Family Holdings Ltd.

1,150Pencor Capital Corp

1,150Blue Grass Holdings Ltd.

1,150361036 BC Ltd

1,150502178 BC Ltd

1,000Portrait Homes

1,000Randy F Bartsch

1,000Nelson Management & Construction

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BC Liberals deposit close to $1 million in donations three days after election - Calgary Herald

NewsBusters (blog)

USA Today: Trump Driving Liberals to Yoga NewsBusters (blog) This news comes to us by way of the May 29 USA Today in which Paul Singer reports that the election of Donald Trump has driven many liberals to take up yoga as a means of escape or to energize themselves for the "resistance" ahead. So perhaps those ...

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USA Today: Trump Driving Liberals to Yoga - NewsBusters (blog)

VANCOUVER- British Columbia's minority Green Party on Monday struck a deal with the left-leaning New Democrats to govern Canada's western-most province, a move that casts doubt on the future of key energy projects from firms such as Kinder Morgan Inc.

Announcement of the partnership ends a stalemate that emerged last week when the final tally of votes from a May 9 election stripped Liberal premier ChristyClarkof her majority. She will now leave office.

The two parties said they will disclose details of their plans on Tuesday.

Green leader Andrew Weaver did not reveal what the pact says about Kinder Morgan's plans to twin its Trans Mountain crude oil pipeline from Alberta to the Pacific coast. Both parties oppose the $7.4 billion project.

"This issue of Kinder Morgan is one that was critical to us and I think you'll see that reflected in tomorrow's announcement," Weaver told a news conference with NDP leader John Horgan.

Clarkhad backed Trans Mountain as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects.

Kinder Morgan's Canadian unit is expected to debut on Tuesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange in an initial public offering to part-finance Trans Mountain. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment, although it acknowledged last week the political climate was "not ideal."

Any move by the new government to block Kinder Morgan will be a blow to federal Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose government approved the project last November.Clark's Liberals are unrelated to Trudeau's party.

Trudeau's spokeswoman Andree-Lyne Halle said the federal government would continue to "work constructively with provincial and territorial governments on the issues that matter to Canadians."

Trudeau says the Alberta energy industry needs the pipeline to boost exports to Asia and reduce reliance on the U.S. market. Opponents say the risks of a spill are too large.

"We will continue to do what we have done all the way, which is standing up for Alberta's best interests. That includes Kinder Morgan and making sure we have access to tidewater for our products," said Alberta Deputy Premier Sarah Hoffman.

Hoffman said Alberta would intervene in lawsuits against the project.

While there is some dispute over whether British Columbia can actually formally block a pipeline project, it can raise multiple hurdles like denying local construction permits that could effectively make it impossible to build.

FIRST MINORITY GOVT SINCE 1952

Horgan has also expressed reservations about a $27 billion liquefied natural gas terminal that Malaysia's Petronas wants to build in northern British Columbia. Petronas was not immediately available for comment.

The political agreement reached between the Greens and New Democrats still needs to be voted on by the NDP caucus on Tuesday. If they agree to create a minority government, it would be the province's first in 65 years.

The Greens and the New Democrats together have 44 of the 87 seats in the provincial legislature. Under the terms of the deal the Greens promise not to defeat the New Democrats for the full four-year term of the new parliament.

Richard Johnston, a professor of political science at the University of British Columbia, said the announcement was "a revolutionary moment in B.C.'s politics. This would be the first minority that lasts more than a year."

The Liberals have ruled the province for 16 years.

Clarkissued a statement saying the government had "a responsibility to carefully consider our next steps" and would have more to say on Tuesday.

Her obvious options include resigning, or hanging onto power until she presents her formal agenda to the new legislature. The Greens and NDP would then immediately vote to bring her down.

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Future of energy projects uncertain as BC Liberals lose majority - BNN

"The word liberal in this context has nothing to do with today's partisan language, but refers instead to the Latin root, pertaining to liberty. And at the heart of liberty in the Western world has been freedom of speech. From the beginning, people understood that this meant protecting and listening to speech with which you disagreed," Zakaria argued.

That means, he said, not drowning out "the ideas that we find offensive."

In addition, Zakaria noted what he called "an anti-intellectualism" on the left.

"It's an attitude of self-righteousness that says we are so pure, we're so morally superior, we cannot bear to hear an idea with which we disagree," he said.

"Liberals think they are tolerant but often they aren't," he added.

No one, he continued, "has a monopoly on right or virtue."

In fact, it is only by being open to hearing opposing views that people on both sides of the political spectrum can learn something, Zakaria said.

"By talking seriously and respectfully about agreements and disagreements, we can come together in a common conversation," he said.

"Recognizing that while we seem so far apart, we do actually have a common destiny."

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Fareed Zakaria: Liberals think they're tolerant, but they're not - CNN