Speaker calls for money to be repaid in legislature

Darryl Plecas, the man behind a report released Monday that alleged misconduct by two key legislative assembly executives, wants the money to be repaid.

Plecas, the Speaker of the legislative assembly, met reporters on Wednesday at the opening of a pedestrian and cycling bridge over Highway 1 in Abbotsford. Plecas is the MLA for Abbotsford South.

“I want to get to a place where we get our money back,” Plecas said.

The 76-page Plecas report contains several accusations against the clerk of the legislature, Craig James, and sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz, who are on a forced leave with pay.

They range from allegations James received a questionable $257,000 retirement bonus in 2012, then in March 2018 approached Plecas to approve another retirement bonus this time for $300,000, to James having legislature alcohol loaded into his truck and making personal use of a $13,000 wood-splitter and trailer bought by the legislature. James also is accused of making potentially improper and lavish expense claims and taking cash in lieu of vacation when it appeared he took vacation days as well.

Lenz also is accused of filing potentially improper expense forms and misusing the payin-lieu of vacation system.

Plecas told reporters the situation was “outrageously complicated” and there was “definitely” more to come. James and Lenz are under RCMP investigation but have not been charged.

“I certainly haven’t presented everything and there is certainly more to come,” Plecas said. “We have to be careful we are not treading on a police investigation.”

Plecas said he was looking forward to the forensic audit that has been approved by MLAs to examine legislature finances.

“If we go back we are going to find what I saw in 18 months is simply the tip of the iceberg and that will become more apparent as we move along with the forensic audit,” he said, adding that any legislature employees who lost their jobs or were disciplined for questioning the conduct of senior staff should be rehired and their records corrected.

“It was a culture at the legislature where it was very difficult for people to do everything right under the umbrella of leadership that posed a considerable threat to people’s futures,” Plecas said.

“You need a culture where people can come forward when they see a mistake. If I have my way, every single person who has been wrongly treated at the legislature will be made whole. I say ‘correct it.’ ”