Another batch of BC Liberal party memberships are under scrutiny after it was revealed that managers at Joey Restaurants were offered free iPads for signing up new party members.
The hot-ticket tablet computers were promised to the first four managers who could bring 25 people to the party before the deadline to participate in the Liberals' upcoming leadership vote.
Customers, co-workers and friends of Joey staff were encouraged to register. CTV News has learned that 40 new memberships were registered using the same phone number, and 24 applications had the same address as a Joey location in Kelowna.
All 24 were signed up in support of Kevin Falcon's campaign, but the leadership hopeful's campaign manager says they had nothing to do with the giveaways and only learned about the irregularities Tuesday night.
Joey Restaurant CEO Jeff Fuller issued a statement Wednesday taking full responsibility for the iPad offer.
"In hindsight, I realize that it wasn't the best decision on my part," he said. "Anyone getting involved in the political process should do so because they strongly believe in the process and support their candidate. It shouldn't be about anything else."
Fuller added that each person who signed up did so because they were "genuinely interested in becoming a member." He has rescinded his offer and the managers will not be receiving iPads.
The Liberals' new leadership candidates have raked in 50,000 new signups in recent months, more than doubling the party's membership -- but controversies about legitimacy continue to cast doubt on the process.
Last week, a senior Christy Clark volunteer's cat made headlines after it was discovered it had been registered to the party.
On Tuesday, a number of Kamloops Blazers hockey players were disenfranchised after it was learned they were signed up to the Liberal party without their consent.
