A day after the Speaker of the BC Legislature, Daryl Plecas, released a second report into alleged 'flagrant' overspending by the Clerk of the House and Sergeant-at-Arms, his chief of staff called media together to clarify a few points.
After the all-party Legislative Assembly Management Committee (LAMC) agreed to publicly release Plecas 2nd report -- they also decided to appoint a retired B.C. Supreme Court Justice to conduct an independent review of both of the speaker's reports.
Daryl Plecas said he would recuse himself from the proceedings. But his Chief of Staff, Alan Mullen, says that doesn't mean Plecas is done with the matter:
" This is about a fresh set of eyes coming in saying I'm going to look at your work here. I'm going to look at this report, this information, this documentation, and then the second report, and I'm going to give you know, sort of my thoughts, or my recommendation to LAMC. That's what it is. So when he says I'm recusing myself, he's recusing himself from this specific report. "
The suspended officials, Craig James and Gary Lenz, face an independent misconduct review, as well as an ongoing R-C-M-P investigation -- and remain on paid leave.
Mullen says Plecas will continue to examine other issues, and we should expect further reports.