National

B.C. Conservatives accuse Eby of spending on comedian speech writer as deficit grows

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Sep, 2025 10:16 AM

Premier David Eby says his office is cutting back on costs as he responds to claims by the Opposition B.C. Conservatives that his government is spending up to $450,000 for Vancouver-based comedian Charles Demers to write speeches.

Demers is one of five speech writers "necessary" for his job, Eby told an unrelated news conference on Tuesday. The value of Demers' contract so far has been $14,000, not "quite as sensational" as the Conservatives are claiming, he said.

The Conservatives released a copy of the contract on Tuesday between government and Demers showing an hourly rate of $165 for a total cost of $150,000 over two years, which could reach $450,000 if he were hired for two more one-year terms.

Conservative finance critic Peter Milobar says in a statement that the contract "exemplifies" the government's misplaced spending priorities in the face of B.C.'s deficit, forecast to reach a record high of $11.6 billion this fiscal year.

Milobar says Demers' contract is "not only tone-deaf" but "offensive" to taxpayers in B.C. as they face higher costs and businesses are struggling.

Demers posted a video on Instagram Tuesday in response, saying the Conservative figures were "hallucinatory" and "not in touch with any reality."

He said he would only receive $450,000 if he were to invoice for the maximum amount for the full length of the contract, then add a further $150,000.

Demers said he doesn't just write jokes for Eby, but rather "all kinds of things."

However, he acknowledged he wrote only jokes for former premier John Horgan.

"I've been a political writer longer than I've been a comedy writer," he added.

Eby said the use of contractors like Demers allows government to cut back on costs and his office is following suit as part of the plan to return to a balanced budget.

Demers said in his video that he is proud of the work he is doing for a government that he supports, and humour is a way for democratic leaders to connect with their constituents and help make their ideas "approachable and understandable."

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Groups say Jewish students, staff at University of B.C. face hostile environment

A coalition of Jewish organizations says it is "deeply alarmed" by a rising tide of antisemitism at the University of British Columbia in recent weeks. A joint statement sent out by six groups, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and Canadian Jewish Advocacy, says Jewish staff, students and faculty members at the university have faced "an increasingly hostile environment" since the start of the academic year.

Groups say Jewish students, staff at University of B.C. face hostile environment

Vancouver begins process of closing homeless encampment at Crab Park

Vancouver's park board says it has begun the process of closing the homeless encampment that has been in place at a local park since 2021. The park board says it is talking directly with each of the seven people still in the camp located in the designated area at Crab Park, with the goal of closing the encampment and returning the area to "general park use" by Nov. 7.

Vancouver begins process of closing homeless encampment at Crab Park

What you need to know as Trudeau fights to retain leadership of the Liberal party

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has resisted calls for his resignation for more than a year now but in recent weeks those calls have grown louder and in some cases more public. The Liberal caucus met Wednesday, where MPs had a three-hour long discussion about their party's current state and whether Trudeau is the best one to keep leading it.

What you need to know as Trudeau fights to retain leadership of the Liberal party

Poll suggests more than half of Canadians unaware of gridlock in House of Commons

A debate has ground work in the House of Commons to a halt for weeks, but a new poll suggests that most Canadians are not even aware it's happening. In a new survey from polling firm Leger, 55 per cent of respondents said they had not heard about the procedural issues that have gridlocked Parliament for more than 12 sitting days.

Poll suggests more than half of Canadians unaware of gridlock in House of Commons

Oil removal work begins on 'fragile' Second World War-era wreck in coastal B.C.

The Canadian Coast Guard said the 77-metre-long Brigadier General M.G. Zalinski has been burping up "slow but consistent drops of oil" since the fall of 2022 at the shipwreck site in Grenville Channel, part of the Inside Passage off northern B.C.

Oil removal work begins on 'fragile' Second World War-era wreck in coastal B.C.

B.C. Green leader spoke with NDP's Eby, but didn't pick up when Conservatives called

Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau says the starting place to supporting whichever party comes to power in British Columbia is her party's platform. Furstenau says she has taken a call from NDP Leader David Eby, but didn't answer the phone when B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad called, adding she didn't recognize the number.