Why didn’t the BC Liberals flag the legislature expenses scandal when they were in power?

The lawyer for the two men at the centre of a spending scandal at the BC Legislature has issued a public statement after yesterday's release of a 76-page report compiled by Speaker Darryl Plecas.

In the statement, suspended Clerk Craig James and Sergeant-at-Arms Gary Lenz complain that at no time over the last weeks or months did Mr. Plecas provide them with information about these allegations or give us any opportunity to respond.

They go on to say, "We are confident that time will show that they are completely false and untrue."

The all-party Legislative Assembly Management Committee has given the pair until February 1st to formally respond.

In his report, Plecas alleges that the pair used taxpayer funds for:

Luxurious travel expenses

Claims for expensive suits, that were "part of the uniform"

Cash payouts in lieu of vacation amounting to hundreds of dollars

$3,200 for a wood-splitter and more than $10,000 for work tools and a trailer that never arrived at the Legislature

Almost $800 on computer support for services at James's home - and $100 for help with an iMac mouse that simply had a dead battery

$10,000 of alcohol in 2013

$5,000 of digital magazine subscriptions, including 'Palm Springs Life'

Guest: Mary Polak

BC Liberals House Leader

Guest: Shannon Waters

Head reporter for British Columbia Today

National Content Manager for Queen’s Park Today

The lawyer for the two men at the centre of a spending scandal at the BC Legislature has issued a public statement after yesterday's release of a 76-page report compiled by Speaker Darryl Plecas.

In the statement, suspended Clerk Craig James and Sergeant-at-Arms Gary Lenz complain that at no time over the last weeks or months did Mr. Plecas provide them with information about these allegations or give us any opportunity to respond.

They go on to say, "We are confident that time will show that they are completely false and untrue."

The all-party Legislative Assembly Management Committee has given the pair until February 1st to formally respond.

In his report, Plecas alleges that the pair used taxpayer funds for:

Luxurious travel expenses
Claims for expensive suits, that were "part of the uniform"
Cash payouts in lieu of vacation amounting to hundreds of dollars
$3,200 for a wood-splitter and more than $10,000 for work tools and a trailer that never arrived at the Legislature
Almost $800 on computer support for services at James's home - and $100 for help with an iMac mouse that simply had a dead battery
$10,000 of alcohol in 2013
$5,000 of digital magazine subscriptions, including 'Palm Springs Life'

Guest: Mary Polak

BC Liberals House Leader

Guest: Shannon Waters

Head reporter for British Columbia Today

National Content Manager for Queen’s Park Today