More BC Liberal vote-getting controversy
Posted March 16, 2013 8:48 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VICTORIA (NEWS1130) – More controversy swirling around the BC Liberals over yet another vote-getting strategy.
The Province newspaper quotes two sources who describe political appointees developing a plan of action for swing ridings — during regular office hours at the BC Legislature, which is in violation of codes of conduct.
A political scientist doesn’t buy the explanation, put forth by the premier’s office.
Dan Doyle, the Chief of Staff in the premier’s office says since the people in question were political appointees, people shouldn’t be surprised that they talk politics during their work day.
Professor John Redekop with Trinity Western University agrees they are political appointees, “but that political work is to be related to their positions, not to go out of the constituency and try to help their bosses get elected. That is inappropriate.”
The Province newspaper says the swing vote strategy was led by the premier’s former principal secretary who left the office last year, and Redekop has a problem with that.
“I find it perplexing that this is still being justified by Dan Doyle! It would be better to say some of our political appointees went beyond the bounds of their jobs and will make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
The province newspaper quotes anonymous staffers saying they knew what they were doing was not supposed to be done on staff time, but there were expectations that they would support the party “on and off the clock.”
