FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VICTORIA, B.C.: In NDP-run B.C., even a political opinion posted on your own time can now earn you a warning from a Crown agency.

Langley realtor Corbin Chivers posted online criticizing the closure of Joffre Lakes Provincial Park to non-Indigenous British Columbians. The post had nothing to do with real estate. He was simply expressing a political opinion as a British Columbian.

But after he posted it, the BC Financial Services Authority, a Crown agency that reports to the Minister of Finance, cautioned him over his comments.

The NDP put BCFSA in charge of regulating real estate professionals in 2021. The agency told Chivers his comments were polarizing, inflammatory and discriminatory, and could bring the industry into disrepute—even though the post had nothing to do with his profession.

“Citizens of a democracy must be free to express political opinions,” said Steve Kooner, Shadow Minister for Attorney General. “A real estate licence does not mean surrendering your right to freedom of expression. It’s ridiculous for a government agency to caution someone over a political statement. But this is the B.C. the NDP is creating. Police are showing up at people’s doors over social media posts, while Niki Sharma pushes to criminalize residential school ‘denialism’ without saying what speech would become a crime. This madness has to stop.”

“Freedom of expression is one of the most fundamental rights in Canada and must be protected at all costs,” said Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Leader of the Conservative Party of B.C. “The NDP is taking draconian measures to silence debate and crush dissent. I promise the Conservatives will always stand up for the inalienable right of every British Columbian to express themselves, regardless of their political opinion.”

– 30 –

Media Contact:
Conservative HQ
media@conservativebc.ca