The BC Conservatives have gone after Premier David Eby for throwing a lavish party for bureaucrats in Victoria while British Columbians experience financial hardship.
Documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation revealed that the Premier's Innovation and Excellence Awards on November 26, 2024 cost nearly $118,000.
"As record numbers of working families turn to food banks, Eby is spending their hard-earned tax dollars on parties for public sector bureaucrats with $21 cocktails and $57 sandwiches," BC Conservative MLA and Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation critic Gavin Dewsaid. "Those are the same tone-deaf fiscal instincts growing the public sector workforce by 41% and racking up a record $11 billion deficit."
He accused the premier of "using the tariff crisis to paper over eight years of economic mismanagement," warning those who are considering giving him a second chance that "his actions don’t match his words."
Invoices showed bureaucrats were treated to $21 cocktails, a three-course dinner at $99 per person, and a $57 apiece "custom sandwich lunch buffet." In total, $75,376 was spent on food and drinks alone, with a further $15,075 for a food and beverage service charge.
The event, which "recognizes public servants on a provincial level," was held at the Victoria Conference Centre. The government spent $14,000 to rent out Carson Hall, Level 1, and Level 2 for the whole day instead of hosting their get-together at the legislature or Government House.
BC's fall economic statement was published just three weeks later, showing a projected $1.5 billion addition to the deficit.
"It's crazy to spend more than a hundred grand on a party for bureaucrats when British Columbia has a huge deficit and families are lining up at food banks in record numbers," CTF BC Director Carson Binda said.
"Eby obviously isn't trying hard enough to find ways to save money if he can't even say no to a runaway party bill like this."