Good on ya, Speaker Plecas

And a big thank you to Speaker Darryl Plecas for pursuing the B.C. Legislature scandal through to the completion that is demanded by taxpayers.

That is, that both Lenz and Craig are charged--and found guilty--of fraudulently misusing taxpayer dollars.

...despite Lenz being "cleared of mis-spending" by former Supreme Court of Canada chief justice Beverley McLachlin.

B.C. taxpayers are glad that Speaker Plecas is like a dog with a bone on the issue.

Attaboy, Speaker Plecas!

Today's story in The Province:


"Another investigation into the suspended legislature sergeant at arms has been launched by Speaker Darryl Plecas.

Gary Lenz was cleared recently on allegations of misspending by an investigation by Beverley McLachlin, the former Supreme Court of Canada chief justice.

But Plecas has commissioned a new investigation of Lenz, under the Police Act, based on a complaint filed by his chief of staff, Alan Mullen, says Mary Polak, the B.C. Liberal House leader.

"We don't have a lot of details with respect to what he's looking at," Polak said Friday.  "It appears as though he is reinvestigating allegations against Gary Lenz that were part of the McLachlin investigation."

NDP house leader Mike Farnworth wold only confirm a probe is underway.  But he wouldn't say who was the target of the investigation, calling it a human resources issue.  Farnworth said that investigation is being led by an individual with a very strong background in whom he has every confidence.  He said the findings of the investigation -- which is not a criminal investigation -- will come to the legislative management committee, the group of MLAs that oversees the operations of the legislature.

"I am very limited in what I can say," said Farnworth.

Farnworth, who is the minister of public safety and solicitor general, said the Speaker has the power to launch such an investigation under the Police Act.

Plecas declined to confirm the investigation, also saying it was a human resources issue.

"I have been advised by my lawyer that that's the proper way to do it," he said.

Polak said she doesn't have a problem with the individual hired for the new investigation, but she does question the manner in which it came about.

"A complaint has been made, so a complaint needs to be investigated and you go where the facts take you," Polak said.

But Polak said it would have been more appropriate for Plecas to have reported the complaint to the legislative management committee and let it decide on an investigation.

"The Speaker, as outlined by Justice McLachlin, should not be doing this stuff on his own," Polak said.

"If there is something to investigate it should go through (the legislative assembly management committee) and not through the Speaker on his own."

Polak said her understanding is that the results of the new investigation will be brought to the legislative assembly management committee, not the Speaker.

"So that's been put back into an appropriate process," Polak said."


Enjoy chewing on that bone, Speaker Plecas.
Because taxpayers are enjoying the sound of it.

...and did taxpayers say Thank You loud enough for you to hear?
Sure hope so!