‘I’m livid’: Weaver wants to see immediate changes, following B.C. House Speaker’s report

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – The leader of the BC Green Party says he’s “livid” following Monday’s damning report about alleged financial misconduct linked to two Legislative staffers.

“It’s public trust in British Columbia. The only way we are going to instill public trust — because right now, people don’t know who they can trust — is to go out of province,” Andrew Weaver said in the halls of the Legislature in Victoria on Tuesday.

“I was not privy to the discussions that led to that. That would be our house leader, who is just heading out of the country,” he added.

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The report, which was made public on Monday, made accusations of lavish spending and inappropriate cash payouts.

“It would be in the millions of dollars,” Darryl Plecas’ special adviser Alan Mullen said on Monday.

In the report, Plecas said he has seen or has been told of “flagrant overspending” on overseas trips for “questionable” business purposes, as well as personal expenses and inappropriate cash payouts in lieu of vacation to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Full report:

 

“An MLA — an Opposition B.C. Liberal MLA — falsifying travel expenses, where a whistleblower took it to the attention of the speaker… the clear allegation here is that there was a cover-up. I think we need to get to the bottom of that. I want to know who that MLA is,” said Weaver.

Weaver says he wants the expenses of all officers of the Legislature made public.

“We should have people who actually recognize what is or is not appropriate … I know there will be conferences — perhaps security conferences — where clerks, speakers and others must go and attend. I would have thought that their judgement, with suitable oversight in financial services would be appropriate.”

The sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz and Clerk Craig James were placed on administrative leave last November pending the outcome of a police investigation.

None of the allegations have been proven and no charges have been laid.

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Mullen says the public can trust there is now a spotlight on behaviour and spending until the reviews are complete. “This has basically put everyone to a place of hyper-vigilance to make sure the t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted.”

He says audits of the offices will ensure more stringent approvals and transparency going forward.

Weaver says he’s sickened by what appears to be a culture of entitlement at the BC Legislature. “You’ve got to be kidding me. There’s nothing in this world that could justify the taxpayer spending a thousand dollars on a piece of luggage. There’s just no way.”

He says massive changes are needed. “There were at least 16 individuals who came forward who were terminated for various cause. So, there must be a culture of fear of retribution in this place.”

“If I, as an MLA elected on behalf of the people, don’t know who I can trust in this building, what can I say about the people of British Columbia? I’m livid about this,” Weaver said.

He says he has read the report several times. When asked what part of it was most troubling to him, he said, “Let me put it this way: How many of you knew that we had a fireplace in the legislature that needed a wood splitter? I don’t think anybody knows that.”

Weaver points out the clerk’s office is supposed to be an independent office and says the allegations are deeply concerning to him. “If you can’t trust independent offices of this legislature, who can you trust?”

He adds his caucus is backing Plecas “100 per cent.”

“We will work with the Speaker’s office to help in any way we can. We need to get to the bottom of this,” he said, adding he feels Plecas has been “vindicated” and will “come out of this as a hero.”

While we wait for the audits, Mullen says the acting heads of the Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms offices are keeping a close eye on spending. The Legislative Assembly Management Committee (LAMC) — ultimately responsible for the legislature budget — are also en garde.

“Everybody — LAMC included — is at heightened level of awareness. Everybody’s paying attention. So I think there are the checks and balances,” Mullen said.

He says the audits will ensure greater transparency going forward.