Watch: NDP leader Adrian Dix is talking a day after a special prosecutor was appointed to investigate possible violations under the BC Elections Act. As Jas Johal reports, the investigation was launched after Dix filed a complaint with the RCMP. Was it a case of sour grapes over his party’s loss at the polls?
A special prosecutor has been appointed to look into whether provincial Election Act laws were broken in connection to the B.C. Liberals plan to woo ethnic votes ahead of the May provincial election.
David Butcher will be assisting police with the ongoing investigation into alleged contraventions of the Election Act.
The Criminal Justice Branch made the announcement today, saying the RCMP commenced an investigation following a complaint in August. The branch says a special prosecutor was necessary “to avoid any real or perceived improper influence in the advice given to police.”
Documents, leaked in February, revealed the Liberal plan to win ethnic votes in the upcoming provincial election.
The documents outlined a proposed outreach plan involving the premier’s office, the multiculturalism ministry, the government caucus and the B.C. Liberal Party.
Premier Christy Clark was forced to apologize and launch a review following the leak.
Clark’s deputy chief of staff Kim Haakstad, who was involved in circulating a controversial memo plotting the strategy, resigned as the result of the scandal.
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UPDATE: New Democrat leader Adrian Dix issued a statement following the announcement, saying he raised these concerns in early August in a confidential letter to the RCMP.
“This investigation relates to concerns the Opposition raised repeatedly in the Legislature, as well as other serious issues. I thought these issues were sufficiently serious as to warrant an investigation.”
Dix said he won’t provide any further comment to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
Meanwhile, Clark’s Director of Communications Ben Chin said it was inappropriate to comment during any ongoing investigation.
“The Government of British Columbia respects this process, and will cooperate fully,” said Chin in a statement.
“Any citizen, including Mr. Dix, is free to file a complaint with the authorities.”
With files from the Canadian Press
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