Plecas faces criticism after copying hard drives of B.C. Legislature officials

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – The drama over the spending scandal at the BC Legislature is flaring up again, this time over the speaker’s actions involving employees in the house.

This is after Speaker Darryl Plecas is said to have copied the information found on the hard drives of the acting clerk and the acting sergeant at arms.

“Arbitrary and unaccountable actions must stop,” said Opposition Leader Andrew Wilkinson before Question Period on Thursday, noting Plecas has embarked on new intrusions of employees causing them to insulate or leave.

The @bcliberals ldr @Wilkinson4BC and house leader @maryforbc laying out their questions they have of @BCLegSpeaker Copying info from staff computers # bcpoli pic.twitter.com/UcM2VUvF4D

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) May 30, 2019

“Employees must be treated fairly both in terms of procedure and their rights within those procedures which are manifested in their rights in the workplace,” Wilkinson added.

Meanwhile, Plecas says his actions are about securing data.

“We have ongoing investigations we do not want an instance where we do not have data available to investigators,” he added.

No clarity was given on what these investigations are but Plecas was not pleased about Wilkinson’s take on the matter. “This is absolutely ridiculous,” Plecas added. “I have concerns about my own data I want people to have access to that I want people to be assured that their data is secure as well, it’s that simple,” he added.

.@BCLegSpeaker Darryl plecas gave a fiery scrum. “That is absurd!” Is the overall take away of his response to @Wilkinson4BC saying plecas is going after staff. Plecas says he’s keeping data safe. #bcpoli (video to come ) pic.twitter.com/jAubdDPULm

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) May 30, 2019

But Liberal House Leader Mary Polak is not convinced, “he certainly made it clear numerous times in the meeting that he would go where he needed to go and he felt he had the authority to access any information in the building from any hard drive or any office.”

 

Meanwhile, Premier John Horgan has rejected calls to replace Plecas. During Horgan’s last scrum of this session, he said the speaker will be the speaker as long as he chooses to be the speaker.

When asked if he had been officially approached by the Opposition to replace Plecas with a Liberal member, Horgan said no.

Premier @jjhorgan’s last scrum of this session.
Re @BCLegSpeaker and the questions about him copying staff hard drives— Horgan says the speaker is the speaker as long as he chooses to be the speaker.#bcpoli pic.twitter.com/h73x0XieEs

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) May 30, 2019

Two weeks ago an investigation into the conduct of Clerk Craig James and Sergeant-at-Arms Gary Lenz found James did engage in misconduct. The fact-finding probe found he made expense claims for improper purchases, and removed and used legislative property.

James has since retired and a non-monetary settlement was reached. The investigation cleared Lenz, noting he did not engage in misconduct. Lenz has said he’s ready to return to work pending the conclusion of an RCMP investigation into the matter.

The two were suspended with pay back in November after being accused of lavish spending on the public’s dime. Both have denied the accusations.

-With files from Espe Currie and The Canadian Press