[LabComm] Why won't Gordon Campbell answer these questions?

[BC NDP Newswire]

Why won't Gordon Campbell  answer these questions?



April 6, 2006

Dear friend,

This week, new information was revealed regarding the shocking police raid on the Legislature that occurred two years ago.

The raid by the RCMP involving the offices of high-level political staffers in the ministries of Finance and Transportation raised a number of troubling questions.

British Columbians deserved answers, but Mr. Campbell dismissed any suggestions that his government did anything wrong: "It was not about government," he said. "It was outside of government."

But on Monday, the Supreme Court released information that makes it clear this disturbing case had everything to do with Mr. Campbell's government.

The warrants released Monday revealed key Liberal appointees may have been involved in kick-backs from lobbyists in exchange for information relating to the sale of BC Rail.

The same day the warrants were released, the Crown Prosecutor announced new charges were being laid. 

In addition to the investigation involving the role played by political staff in the BC Rail deal, new charges from the Crown allege David Basi accepted $50,000 from two developers in an apparent attempt to influence a decision by the Agricultural Land Commission.

The new allegations point to a pattern of corruption and there are more questions than ever before. 

This week, the NDP pressed the BC Liberal government to answer some important questions:
<ul>
<li>Why did the Premier not order an internal investigation into every file that Mr. Basi touched while he worked as a top political aide to the Minister of Finance?
</li>
<li>In light of the new charges, will the Campbell government conduct a review of every decision made to remove land from the ALR while Mr. Basi worked in the Campbell administration?
</li>
<li>Can the government assure British Columbians that the lobbyists named in the police warrants no longer have access to senior Liberal government staff?
</li>
<li>Did lobbyists from Pilothouse meet with senior staff in other ministries, including the Ministries of Health, Forests, Public Safety and Economic Development?
</li>
<li>Why did the Liberal Party continue to accept money in 2004 from lobbyists named in the original warrants, long after the raids on the Legislature?
</li>
<li>Why won't the Liberal government allow an all-party review of the Lobbyists Registration Act in order to have greater accountability over who is influencing government and how? </li>
</ul>
Rather than answer legitimate questions about the government and public accountability, the Premier chose to hide behind the court case.

Mr. Campbell has always insisted that David Basi was a minor official with little influence.

Mr. Basi was a key player in the Liberal Party, both federally and provincially.

The new allegations suggest he may have exercised influence over other government ministries, and worked on important files like the sale of major public assets.

The NDP asked many questions about the role of political staffers in the Campbell government. 

We asked about the rules governing how lobbyists interact with government, and whether or not the public interest is being served.

We asked questions about government, not about the court case.

The Campbell government refused to answer our questions. 

They refused to come clean. 

The NDP will continue to press the Liberals until British Columbians get the accountability they deserve from their government.

<strong>Carole James</strong><br />Leader<br />BC New Democrats

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