PLECAS EXPECTS TO HEAR FROM RCMP SOON ON SPENDING SCANDAL
The next major development in the legislature spending scandal will probably come from police, and it will be worse than the report on expense allegations released last month, B.C. Speaker Darryl Plecas says.
In a wide-ranging interview this week, Plecas was cautious, saying only that the public should hear more from the RCMP, likely by March.
“We have a police investigation going on, which is going to be going on for some time and I think is much broader than people think. People might think, ‘Oh gee, all they care about here is travel expenses.’ But nothing could be further from the truth,” Plecas said.
“I can’t tell you how difficult this exercise has been, which will become more apparent in the coming weeks.”
He wouldn’t reveal what police may or may not say, for fear of impeding the investigation, but added “we are talking about a lot of really serious issues.”
Issues that go beyond allegations of the misuse of expense accounts? Yes, he said. Issues that involve Criminal Code allegations? Yes.
“The next report will sicken people,” added Plecas, who famously said before his own report was released in January that it would make people vomit.
After conducting a year-long investigation, Plecas wrote a scathing report, released Jan. 21, that accused the suspended legislature clerk, Craig James, and the suspended sergeant-at-arms, Gary Lenz, of “flagrant overspending ” that included billing inappropriate expenses, lavish foreign trips that involved little work, and questionable retirement and pay benefits. The allegations have not been proven in court, and James and Lenz deny wrongdoing.
In this week’s interview, Plecas and his chief of staff, Alan Mullen, would not say how many people are the target of the police investigation, or whether it included James or Lenz. Nor would they reveal the nature of any criminal charges being contemplated by the two special prosecutors working with police.
Plecas said there is information not in his 76-page report that he has provided to police, but would not elaborate.
RCMP and special prosecutors “get assigned when there is a genuine, reasonable probable cause or grounds to believe or suspect that there is a Criminal Code violation or violations.
“That is what they are doing,” Mullen said.
“They are close to being able to have some conversations publicly and release at least some information from their side of the house. When that will happen I don’t know specifically, but it certainly won’t go on and on and on without hearing from the RCMP.”
An RCMP spokesperson would not comment Thursday on whether police had information to share in the case yet.
“The investigation remains active and ongoing, we have no timeline with respect to its conclusion,” said Sgt. Janelle Shoihet.
Plecas and Mullen are also continuing their own investigation into spending at the legislature, which they say could become the biggest political scandal in Canadian history.
Plecas also revealed to Postmedia this week that he recently provided the legislative assembly management committee (LAMC) with a supplemental report that clarifies some facts in his first report, but also contains new information.
The new report “provide(s) more information on allegations made by another person who has come forward,” Plecas said. “It is more than expenses. I would say very serious allegations. But we just have to leave it at that for now.”
It is up to the committee to decide whether the new report should be released to the public, but Plecas said he recommended it remain confidential because it contained “very sensitive information” of a more personal nature.
Plecas said the new information will assist house leaders in deciding what action, if any, the legislative assembly should take with respect to the suspensions of James and Lenz.
The supplemental report has been provided to their lawyers, he said.
James and Lenz said late Thursday they have provided their responses to “each and every allegation” in Plecas’s initial report to the legislature’s management committee. Lenz said in a news release that he hoped to “quickly be exonerated” while James said in a news release he depends on the committee to “review the information that I have provided carefully and treat me fairly.”
Postmedia was unable to confirm if police have sent information to prosecutors for charge approval.
Crown spokesman Dan McLaughlin said he could not comment. “As the matter is currently subject to an ongoing investigation, neither the B.C. (Prosecution Service) nor the special prosecutors will comment further or release any additional information.”
Plecas said he and Mullen continue to gather evidence from former and current employees, and occasionally speak with the auditor general, who is doing a financial audit, and the RCMP.
He suggested police are focusing initially on pretty straightforward aspects of the case. “There is a collection of short-term issues that police and prosecutors are looking at, and then there are some longerterm matters.”