Premier David Eby defends speechwriting contract with comedian

Premier David Eby is facing criticism from the Opposition Conservatives over a speech-writing contract with a comedian.

Vancouver-based comedian Charlie Demers is paid an hourly rate of $165 dollars for speech and content-writing for the premier. His initial two-year contract is worth up to $150,000, with options for two one-year extensions. 

The B.C. Conservatives say that could amount to a total payout of $450,000.

Conservative finance critic and MLA for Kamloops Centre Peter Milobar said Tuesday the NDP’s priorities are “backwards” as British Columbia faces an $11.6 billion dollar deficit.  

“Premier Eby is telling families and small businesses to brace for cutbacks while his government quietly signs contracts worth nearly half a million dollars for a comedian,” said Milobar.

Eby said in Vancouver Tuesday Demers is one of a group speechwriters on his team. 

“I would love to be able to write my own speeches the way that I used to, but I do need support to respond to each event that I go to. Speechwriters are a necessary part of the job,” said Eby.

He said Demers has been paid just $14,000 so far, and remains available “as needed.”

Demers replied to the controversy in a video posted to his Instagram account. He disputed the compensation figure provided by the Conservatives, calling it “hallucinatory.”

Demers said the maximum payout possible under the contract would be $300,000 — if the contract were extended to the maximum four years.

He adds that he also worked for former premier John Horgan as a joke-writer, but did not write speeches for him.