National

Spending Abuse Claims Expose Failure By Past Liberal Government: B.C. Premier

The Canadian Press, 24 Jan, 2019 10:10 PM

VICTORIA — Premier John Horgan is putting pressure on the Opposition Liberals to explain allegations made by the Speaker of "flagrant overspending" by two top legislature officials dating back to when the party was in power.

Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson called for all political parties to work together today to clean up the allegations of abuse contained in the Speaker's report released this week by the legislative assembly management committee.

But Horgan says the Liberals first need to answer how sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz and clerk Craig James were allegedly allowed to overspend on trips, purchase personal items at taxpayers' expense, and misappropriate alcohol and equipment.

The NDP premier says Speaker Darryl Plecas discovered alleged abuses dating back to 2012, five years before the Liberals lost power.

Lenz and James were placed on administrative leave in November during an ongoing police investigation.

Both men deny any wrongdoing and say the allegations will be proven untrue.

The NDP and Green party have called on former Liberal Speaker Linda Reid to account for the allegations during her time in the role.

Reid has not been available for comment, but in a statement issued Wednesday she says she will co-operate with any investigations.

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