Premier Gordon Campbell says controversy about questionable party memberships is inevitable in the enthusiasm over the B.C. Liberal leadership race, but that he is confident the party will make sure valid members choose his successor.
Mr. Campbell, elected Liberal leader 17 years ago, told reporters after a farewell speech to the Richmond Chamber of Commerce that the membership disputes reflect the "energy and passion" in the race, and that membership questions are inevitable in such contests.
"You know the party will go through this time and again, and you have to count on the party to make sure things are done properly and fairly," he said in a rare comment on the leadership race.
The party announced on Tuesday that at least 50,000 new members have joined since the leadership race began, but also acknowledged irregularities, such as 40 names from one address in Kelowna.
Media reports linked the 40 names to the campaign of former health minister Kevin Falcon. Party spokesperson Lilian Kim said she could not confirm that, adding that the situation has been flagged and is under review.
Mr. Falcon faced other woes. His team conceded on Tuesday that a supporter had signed up several members of the Kamloops Blazers Hockey Team without their knowledge.
That admission came as Mr. Falcon's campaign accused the campaign of Christy Clark, the former deputy premier who has been leading public-opinion polls as the favoured choice of the public and party, of improperly photocopying membership signup forms. Last week it was disclosed that a supporter of Ms. Clark signed up a cat as a party member.
Mr. Campbell rejected a suggestion that all of this will hurt the image of the BC Liberals, noting that New Democrats were recently "battering one another" over similar issues.
"I don't think it's unusual to have a discussion about memberships, particularly when there's a real drive to sign up members across the board," he said.
Mr. Campbell said he expected both the Liberals and the New Democrats will manage their situations to elect the best possible leaders.
Ms. Kim said the party's membership now stands at about 90,000, up from 36,000 in November. On Feb. 26, party members will choose a successor to Mr. Campbell from six contenders.
The campaign of Mike de Jong, the former attorney-general, has claimed 10,000 new members, and Mr. Falcon 17,500. The other campaigns have declined to be specific. Ms. Clark has refused to confirm reports that her team signed up 25,000.
"I am very confident with the numbers of people that came in to support me, but I don't rest on my laurels about it," Ms. Clark said when pressed on the issue.
Ms. Clark said she was not aware of any photocopied membership forms being used in her campaign, and added that she has faith in the party to deal with any irregularities.
However, she said membership issues should not be the basis for negative campaigning among the six candidates.
"As candidates, we shouldn't be attacking each other on these things," she told reporters in Burnaby after a speech to outline her "Families First" policy agenda. "What it does is it serves to help the NDP more than any of the particular candidates in the race."
Norman Stowe, a spokesman for the Falcon campaign, said he did not have any information on the 40 members from a single address, but that they might be employees at a single workplace.
Ian Bailey