B.C. MLA Jinny Sims has resigned from cabinet following the appointment of a special prosecutor, Premier John Horgan announced Friday.
In the statement, Horgan said he was advised by the Attorney General of the appointment of a special prosecutor for an RCMP investigation related to Sims.
“Jinny Sims has resigned from cabinet during the investigation. I accepted her resignation as appropriate under the circumstances. We take any such investigation very seriously,” Horgan said.
“While we await the conclusion of the matter, I have asked Minister Selina Robinson to temporarily assume responsibility as Minister of Citizens’ Services.”
Sims is still the MLA for Surrey-Panorama. She also released a statement on Friday afternoon.
“This afternoon I offered my resignation as Minister of Citizens’ Services upon learning of the appointment of a Special Prosecutor. I have not been given details of any allegations but there was no credibility to previous public allegations,” Sims said.
“I am confident that my name will be cleared but do not want to distract form the important work of government in the meantime. “For that reason, I have decided to step away from my duties while the matter is resolved.
“On the advice of counsel, I will not be making any further statements.”
Kate Gillie — who was fired after working for Sims for six weeks — claimed the minister had inappropriately mixed her constituency and ministerial duties in a number of ways. That includes allegations that Sims wrote visa reference letters for foreign nationals on a security watch list.
B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson released a statement that said British Columbians should be appalled that “NDP Minister Jinny Sims has resigned due to an RCMP investigation after months of John Horgan insisting that she and his government have done nothing wrong.”
“The fault lies at the feet of John Horgan and he needs to immediately explain to British Columbians why a special prosecutor has been appointed to investigate an NDP minister,” Wilkinson said.
“The BC Liberals have raised countless questions for months about Jinny Sims’ conduct in government and in her community. This ranges from breaking FOI rules as the minister responsible, to her decision to write letters of immigration support for people on terrorist watch lists. John Horgan continued to dismiss legitimate concerns and now he must answer for this complete failure of leadership on his part.”
Sims was first elected as an NDP MLA in 2017.
With files from CBC
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