Democracy Watch calls for more transparency on B.C. legislature investigation

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) –  Following the suspension of two officials at British Columbia’s legislature amid an RCMP investigation, one group is calling for more transparency about the case.

Duff Conacher with Democracy Watch says even though they understand certain aspects of the investigation into clerk Craig James and sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz can’t be revealed, more information should be shared.

“It doesn’t seem like it would be endangering any investigation at this point to actually disclose some more details to the public and let them know what’s going on and what the investigation entails,” Conacher adds.

WATCH: RCMP investigation at B.C. Legislature

He says police may have been trying to protect some evidence, especially if someone else within the legislature may have been involved, but he notes that by now, key offices have probably been sealed off by RCMP.

“They must be far along in the investigation to be giving some more details to the public,” he adds.

James and Lenz were placed on paid leave on Tuesday. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth announced the suspension at the end of question period but did not explain the reasons for the investigation.

Both officials were walked out of the legislature.

The BC Prosecution Service confirmed two Special Prosecutors have been assigned to the case. Vancouver lawyers Brock Martland and David Butcher were appointed Oct. 1 to work independently from the government, the Ministry of the Attorney General and the BC Prosecution Service.

What do the clerk and sergeant-at-arms do at the B.C. Legislature?

The two officials at the B.C. legislature who have been put on an indefinite leave amid the RCMP investigation have high-profile positions. They are ultimately in charge of the legislature.

Dermod Travis with the non-partisan group IntegrityBC explains sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz is trusted with sensitive information.

“Sergeant-at-arms is not just the ceremonial ‘holding of the mace’ to open up the legislature every day,” adds Travis. “But rather, he’s responsible for the security of the entire legislative compound… not only the members but the buildings and any possible terrorism activity.”

He calls clerk Craig James “the CEO of the legislature.”

“They’re going to determine whether you get a corner office or whether your office is in the bowels of the legislature. They’re going to have a great deal of influence in whether or not you get recognized in the legislature to speak, as an MLA. Your expense claims are going to ultimately go through that office.”

Travis is also shocked that two special prosecutors have been appointed.

“I think it would have been unprecedented for the clerk of a legislature to be put on administrative leave in the Commonwealth,” he adds. “For two senior individuals in the legislature to be put on administrative leave at the same time has taken ‘unprecedented’ to a whole new level.”

“Nothing short of astonishing”

Les Leyne with the Times Colonist has been writing about Victoria politics for more than 30 years.

He says he’s never seen anything like it in B.C. politics.

“We have political scandals – cabinet ministers disgrace themselves – but to see it happen to the cloaked officers of the legislature who just sit independently and stay out of the political fray, it’s nothing short of astonishing,” he says.

And the move is significant. Although few people may have heard of them as they work behind the scenes, inside the legislature, he says: “it’s like the CEO and the deputy boss of the whole organization are gone.”

Leyne compared the situation to both referees of a hockey game being given penalties for misconduct.

“It’s hard to fathom what happened, and there was a moment of just complete astonishment when that motion was moved to suspend them,” he says.

-With files from Martin MacMahon and Simon Druker