A Canadian premier has come under fire after it was revealed he could spend nearly half a million dollars of taxpayer money on a self-proclaimed ‘radical Marxist comedian’ to help write his speeches.
British Columbia Premier David Eby, 48, secretly hired stand-up comedian Charles Demers, 45, in January of this year – signing a contract that pays him a staggering $165 an hour, with the potential to earn up to $450,000 Canadian dollars ($325,945 USD), according to leaked documents.
Officials have raised two major concerns about the move – the first being Demers’ political stance, as his self-proclaimed identity as a ‘lifelong Marxist’ has sparked controversy and criticism over the years.
In a 2018 interview with CBC, the comedian declared: ‘As a teenager, I was in a radical communist sect, with a Marxist newspaper published in New York that we sold on street corners.’
Secondly, British Columbia is grappling with a record-breaking $11.6-billion deficit – the largest in the province’s history – and critics are now blaming Eby for what they call tone-deaf spending decisions.
‘Premier Eby is telling families and small business to brace for cutbacks while his government quietly signs contracts worth nearly half a million dollars for a comedian,’ B.C. Conservative Peter Milobar said in a statement, according to Juno News.
‘In the middle of the largest deficit in B.C.’s history, this is not only tone-deaf, it’s offensive to every taxpayer,’ he added.
‘At a time that we’re supposed to be having a hiring freeze, at a time that we’re supposed to be seeing potential cutbacks to the workforce, the premier’s office – as long as it suits the premier’s needs – seems to spend money.’
Canadian Premier David Eby (pictured), 48, has come under fire after a leaked document revealed he may spend nearly half a million dollars of taxpayer money on a self-proclaimed ‘radical Marxist comedian’ to help write his speeches
Officials have raised two major concerns about the move – the first being Demers’ (pictured) political stance, as his self-proclaimed identity as a ‘lifelong Marxist’ has sparked controversy and criticism over the years
The British Columbia (B.C.) Conservative Party recently uncovered the seemingly hidden contract, which is set to run from February 2025 through January 2027.
According to the signed documents, Demers is responsible for researching content, preparing speaking notes, developing plans and strategies, crafting news releases, digital content, reports, and op-eds – all to assist Eby in writing his official speeches.
It was also revealed that Eby and Demers’ relationship dates back to 2022, when the comedian spoke at the premier’s swearing-in ceremony.
Their history has only fueled further questions about the hiring process – whether Demers was chosen solely because of his friendship with Eby, or if other candidates were even considered.
‘There’s nothing funny about it – it’s the ultimate David Eby friends and insiders move,’ Milobar added, according to CTV News.
On Monday, a press conference was held where the B.C. New Democratic Party (NDP) and Eby’s office faced tough questions over the taxpayer-funded deal.
‘We have rampant spending, out of control, and the decision-making by the premier, in the backdrop of a supposed hiring freeze, is to hire a personal friend to write jokes,’ Milobar told Global News.
During the conference, when a reporter asked the premier if he gets a ‘discount if the jokes bomb,’ he laughed it off – but quickly shifted gears to defend his decision.
According to the docs, Demers is responsible for researching content, preparing speaking notes, developing plans and strategies, crafting news releases, digital content, reports, and op-eds – all to assist Eby (pictured) in writing his official speeches
British Columbia is grappling with a record-breaking $11.6-billion deficit and critics – including B.C. Conservative Peter Milobar (pictured) – are now blaming Eby for what they call tone-deaf spending decisions
On Tuesday, Demers (pictured) addressed the growing controversy with a video posted to his Instagram account, calling the figures mentioned in the Conservative statement ‘hallucinatory’
‘Today, for example, I’m delivering five speeches,’ Eby said. ‘I’d love to be able to write my own speeches like I used to, but I do need support to be able to respond to each event.’
‘Speechwriters are a necessary part of the job,’ he added.
The NDP has claimed to have cut 850 public service jobs, with more layoffs expected as the province tightens its budget – yet the premier’s office currently employs six communications staff.
During the tense meeting, it was revealed that Demers had received nearly $100,000 in payments over the past three years alone.
However, Eby defended the figure, stating that Demers has been paid only $14,000 so far this year.
‘Any time a politician starts trying to justify the spending using ‘only’ as a qualifier, you know they got caught out,’ Milobar said during the conference.
On Tuesday, Demers addressed the growing controversy with a video posted to his Instagram account.
In the clip, the comedian first tackles the figures mentioned in the Conservative statement, dismissing them as ‘hallucinatory.’
‘They are not in touch with any kind of reality,’ Demers stated.
The NDP is accused of ‘misappropriating funds’ amid ongoing strikes by B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) workers demanding higher wages (pictured)
Milobar (pictured) called the decision ‘the ultimate David Eby friends and insiders move,’ pointing to the premier’s longstanding relationship with Demers, which dates back to 2022
Eby (pictured) defended his decision to hire Demers, arguing that ‘speechwriters are a necessary part of the job’ to meet the constant demands of the role
He also emphasized that his role goes beyond writing jokes for Eby – he helps craft entire speeches.
‘David Eby’s not the first premier of British Columbia that I’ve written for,’ Demers said. ‘I wrote for John Horgan, although for John Horgan, I did only write jokes.’
Demers then addressed the $450,000 figure mentioned in the contract, joking that if it were true, he might finally be able ‘to get a better mortgage.’
He acknowledged that while he understands ‘math is hard,’ he would only receive the full $450,000 if he invoiced the maximum amount for the maximum duration of the contract.
The NDP is accused of ‘misappropriating funds’ amid ongoing strikes by B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) workers demanding higher wages – all while officials question when the party even intends to balance the budget.
‘The government kind of is saying on the one hand, ‘we’re going to balance the budget,’ but then the numbers tell a different story,’ David Van Hemmen, the VP of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, told CTV.
‘And the different story is higher spending as far as the eye can see,’ he added.
However, Paul Finch, president of the striking workers’ union, defended Demers’ role in a post on X Tuesday, publicly backing the premier’s move.
‘Our strike is about getting fair wages for all civil servants in B.C., not unfairly attacking individuals,’ Finch wrote.
‘Charles is not just a comedian but an accomplished writer and public intellectual -well qualified for this role,’ he added. ‘This isn’t where criticism is due.’
