VICTORIA – The controversy over a leaked document distributed by a former key staffer in British Columbia Premier Christy Clark’s office has claimed another victim.
Clark announced her Multiculturalism Minister John Yap is out of cabinet pending the outcome of (TSXV:ABU) a review of a controversial government ethnic vote strategy.
Clark said Monday Yap has stepped aside as minister responsible for multiculturalism and minister of advanced education, innovation and technology until a review of the leaked strategy is competed by her deputy minister John Dyble.
Yap told reporters that he’s taking responsibility for the contents of the report – but he also said he had never seen the document.
“I’m the minister responsible. This is an issue that involves multiculturalism and the responsibility rests with me as the current minister responsibility for multiculturalism.”
Ralph Sultan, the Minister of State for Seniors, is taking over Yap’s duties.
On Friday, Clark’s deputy chief of staff Kim Haakstad resigned without severance over the document.
Haakstad emailed the 17-page “Multicultural Strategic Outreach Plan” to several other Liberals via private emails.
The premier suggested that Dyble’s review could result in further actions.
On Monday, Clark apologized again, but this time in the legislature, for the creation of the strategy by government staffers who proposed to use the plan to entice ethnic voters in the run-up to the May provincial election.
Clark said the document should never have been created.
“I want to apologize for the ideas in it and I want to apologize for the language in it as well,” she said.
Liberal caucus members leaving a meeting with Clark Monday at the legislature said they were united behind Clark, but were also awaiting the outcome of Dyble’s review.
Clark met with her Liberal Party caucus less than 24 hours after announcing she wasn’t quitting over the fallout from a controversial leaked strategy to entice ethic voters.
Following a rare weekend cabinet meeting Sunday, Clark apologized for offending the multicultural community with the tone of language in the leaked Liberal ethnic vote strategy.
Clark’s cabinet ministers said Sunday they supported the premier even though mistakes had been made. Cultural Development Minister Bill Bennett calling the leaked document a “doozy” of a political gaff.
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