Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson has proposed three recommendations to the premier on legislative assembly expenses.
B.C. Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson said he wants to meet the B.C. premier to “clean house” during his first comments since an explosive report alleging flagrant overspending by two suspended legislative officials.
In his letter to Premier John Horgan, Wilkinson proposes they agree that all legislative assembly expenses be posted online, an immediate ban on foreign travel unless approved six weeks in advance by the Legislative Assembly Management Committee, and a review by the province’s auditor general on accounting practices.
BC Liberal leader @Wilkinson4BC proposing 3 requirements @BCLegislature; post all Legislative expenses, ban int'l travel, Aud Gen to conduct review of accting procedures. #bcpoli @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/eetip7utSF
— Mary Griffin (@Mary_Griffin_) January 24, 2019
Speaker Darryl Plecas released a 76-page report Monday alleging Sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz and clerk Craig James claimed expenses for luxurious overseas trips and personal purchases.
The two were placed on administrative leave last November amid an ongoing RCMP investigation and both have denied any wrongdoing.
Wilkinson said the allegations are troubling and demand urgent action, adding in a statement, “the credibility of this institution and the reliance that British Columbians have on the integrity of the people’s House is at stake.”
In response, Horgan said there is lots of blame to go around in the spending scandal, saying he won’t let the Liberal leader pretend the scandal didn’t happen while the party was in power.
Premier slams @Wilkinson4BC, and won't allow the BC Liberal leader to pretend alleged spending scandal @BCLegislature didn't happen. #bcpoli @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/GP3D2jHvwM
— Mary Griffin (@Mary_Griffin_) January 24, 2019
Wilkinson did not answer to questions that have been raised regarding behaviour by fellow Liberal MLAs.
On Wednesday, The New Democrats and Greens called on former Speaker Liberal Linda Reid to explain how expenses were accounted for at a time when she oversaw business in the house.
Green Leader Andrew Weaver said Reid should step aside as assistant deputy Speaker over allegations made by an unnamed whistleblower mentioned in Plecas’s report who raised concerns last February about the travel expenses of a member of the legislature.
The report alleges the whistleblower was fired shortly after meeting with Lenz.
Surrey NDP MLA Garry Begg, a member of the all-party committee that oversees the financial management at the legislature, said Reid was Speaker from 2013 to 2017 when many of the alleged abuses would have occurred.
In a statement Wednesday, Reid said she will co-operate with any investigations.
While attending a public event in his Abbotsford riding on Wednesday, Plecas said, “I don’t think we’ve seen the end of this story yet.”
With files from the Canadian Press.
BC Liberal leader @Wilkinson4BC says public service not an excuse for "tacky tourist tours". #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/SC75wC4oAk
— Mary Griffin (@Mary_Griffin_) January 24, 2019
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