WATCH: Health Minister Terry Lake floated the Office of the Ombudsperson as the best way of finding out what led to the wrongful dismissal of eight health care workers
VICTORIA – It was another day of developments in the case of eight health care workers who were wrongly fired by the provincial government – yet it ended without the government committing to any particular course of action.
British Columbia’s Ministry of Finance says the release of a report into the controversial firings and suspensions of government health researchers is imminent.
The ministry says the release of the comptroller general’s report is now possible because the Mounties say they no longer require its information.
Premier Christy Clark said earlier this month that a 2013 email from the RCMP to the finance ministry confirmed an investigation was underway.
But the RCMP never confirmed an investigation and recent freedom-of-information documents revealed police were waiting for government information about the case, which never came.
The workers who were part of a drug-research grant program were fired in September 2012 amid allegations of inappropriate and possibly criminal conduct, but media reports later showed the RCMP never investigated the claims.
The Opposition New Democrats, the seven researchers and the sister of former worker, Roderick MacIsaac, who committed suicide, are calling for an independent public inquiry into the situation.
“I believe the solution has been laid out for the government by the individuals in question,” said NDP leader John Horgan. “They’ve asked for a independent, arms-length, separate from government investigation.”
READ MORE: Fired B.C. health care workers write letter pushing for public inquiry
However, Health Minister Terry Lake raised the idea of the Office of the Ombudsperson being the best way of getting to the bottom of the situation.
“It would be, I think, more inappropriate for politicians to be directing what can and can’t be released. That’s why we’re trying to find a mechanism that will recognize the inherent conflict,” he said.
The Office of the Ombudsperson has the power to force people to testify under oath.
While public inquiries and auditor-general investigations have generally been the tools of choice for B.C. governments dealing with high-profile political scandals, the Ombudsperson investigated the so-called “Knight Street Pub” scandal in 1988, where those trying to get a liquor license skewed a neighbourhood referendum. Then, several people in government were fired, and protocols put in place to make sure approval referendums were done fairly in the future.
WATCH: Ted Chernecki looks at the history of investigations into B.C. political scandals
The NDP is against the idea, saying incoming ombudsman Jay Chalke is unsuited for the job given his time as assistant deputy minister for the Ministry of Justice.
“I think most people out there believe the Ombudsperson is a component part of government, even as an independent officer of the legislature,” said Horgan.
And there’s one other snag – Chalke hasn’t officially taken his role yet. But Global News legislative bureau chief Keith Baldrey believes a resolution is coming.
“I expect one way or another…whichever route the government opts for here, we’re probably going to get an announcement as early as tomorrow or next week,” he said.
“They realize this thing has to come to a head, and the answers have to be known a lot sooner than later.”
– With files from The Canadian Press
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