North Shore MLAs Get $6,083 Worth Of Free Olympic Tickets
VICTORIA – Today New Democrat MLA John Horgan questioned the B.C. Liberals’ decision to spend nearly $2.4 million of taxpayers’ dollars on Olympic tickets. West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Ralph Sultan snapped up tickets for six different Olympic events. 
John Horgan
“The people of West Vancouver-Capilano are scratching their heads. They want to know exactly what their elected representative did for them at the Olympic Games,” said Horgan. “Mr. Sultan needs to provide a clear explanation to the residents of his community.”
A report released last week details the use of nearly $1 million worth of Olympics tickets purchased directly by the B.C. Liberal government, although it neglects to report on the additional $1.4 million of taxpayers’ money spent by various Crown corporations.
The report revealed that Sultan received a total of $1,447 in taxpayer-funded Olympic tickets. He received tickets to the short track speed skating Ladies 500m Qualification, Ladies 3000m Relay Qualification, Men’s 500m Qualification and Final, and a concert by pop star Nelly Furtado from a luxury suite with other B.C. Liberal MLAs. Sultan also received tickets to the Men’s hockey preliminary match between Sweden and Finland, and the Men’s bronze medal game.
Minister Naomi Yamamoto and MLA Jane Thornthwaite were in attendance at numerous Olympic events. Yamamoto’s Olympic tickets cost $3,648 and Thornthwaite received $948 in tickets.
“The public wants to know what business deals Mr. Sultan was negotiating at the Nelly Furtado concert, or during the Men’s bronze medal game,” asked Horgan.
“The B.C. Liberal government might be able to create a defence for this type of expenditure for Gordon Campbell, or the Minister of Tourism, but it doesn’t make sense for a backbencher like Sultan to be in attendance unless he paid for his own ticket.”
Carole James and New Democrats have been holding the B.C. Liberals accountable for breaking their word on the HST, and for backtracking on their election promises to protect health care, education, and other vital services.
