Advocacy group taking case against Christy Clark to court of appeal

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A justice advocacy group isn’t letting go of their case against former Premier Christy Clark and the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.

This case revolves around the former Premier’s expensive cash-for-access fundraising events.

The BC Supreme Court ruled in January that Clark’s cash-for-access events with lobbyists weren’t a conflict of interest.

Democracy Watch Co-founder Duff Conacher says even though she is no longer running the province, the Liberal Party still needs to be held accountable.

“Also whether there’s an effective ethics law enforcement in BC,” he adds. “Because it is an open question as to whether the rulings of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner means anything at all.”

Conacher is also challenging Commissioner’s Paul Fraser’s own conflict of interest in ruling on the situation because his son worked for the Premier’s Cabinet.

“Commissioner Fraser is there and he didn’t step aside in this case, even though it involved Premier Clark, his son’s boss.”

However, the case was tossed out and now he’s taking this to the Appeal Court.

“We hope that this ruling will say things have to be done properly and upheld effectively, ensure that everyone avoids the appearance of a conflict of interest in BC politics, like the law says.”

The NDP had been accused of doing the same thing and he says they would continue their action.

“It remains an open issue as to whether conflicts of interest were created by those events.”

The case will go to an appeals court tomorrow.