Liberal MLA Linda Reid announces retirement
Former Speaker Reid announces decision Thursday
Liberal MLA and former legislature Speaker Linda Reid has announced her retirement. Reid is under fire from critics for a history of lavish spending and refusing to participate directly in an investigation into the ongoing spending scandal at the legislature.
Reid, who has spent 28 years in B.C. politics and is the longest-serving MLA in the current legislature, announced she will not be seeking re-election.
“After 28 years of service to British Columbia and to the people of Richmond South Centre, I have decided that I will not be seeking re-election,” she said in a statement Thursday.
“My priority throughout my career as an elected member of my community has been to encourage young people, especially women, to get involved in politics. I’m passionate about creating opportunities for a new generation of British Columbians to run for office — which is why I have made this difficult decision.”
The NDP government has sharply criticized Reid after it was revealed she refused to meet former Metro Transit Police chief Doug LePard during his investigation into part of the legislature spending scandal. Though she’d publicly pledged to fully co-operate, she instead only answered questions through her lawyer.
Reid had also attracted controversy during her tenure as Speaker from 2013 to 2017. During that time, she had to defend herself against several spending scandals, including her decision to purchase a $750 muffin rack for the MLA lounge, a $40,000 touchscreen computer terminal for her desk, and a first-class African safari trip for herself and her husband.
At the time, MLAs on both the NDP and Liberal sides of the house quietly defended her spending as allowed under the rules.
But in the years since, current Speaker Darryl Plecas has released several reports that highlight alleged misspending by the former clerk and sergeant-at-arms, and Reid’s former allies have become her biggest critics.
Auditor General Carol Bellinger also released a recent report that highlighted the lax controls and oversights on how taxpayer money is spent at the legislature.
An RCMP investigation into former clerk Craig James and former sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz continues.
Reid was not available for comment on her retirement Thursday.
Her statement said she will continue to serve out her term and work as Opposition seniors critic until the next election, which is scheduled for fall of 2021.