Thanks but no thanks is in essence the Premier’s reaction to a call by the leader of the opposition to a cease fire after jaw dropping allegations of lavish spending in the Plecas report.
John Horgan says he is not opposed to the principle but then added Andrew Wilkinson may need a history lesson on his own comments just last month.
“The leader of the opposition called the Speaker rogue and out of control. He said something had to be done about the Speaker. The Speaker was a problem. As recently as this week the house leader for the BC Liberals said why did it take so long for the Speaker to expose the excesses the in the clerk’s office. Today for the leader of the opposition to say stand with me and defend the indefensible is not something I am prepared to do.”
Horgan also said it is troubling to see allegations Clerk Craig James was cozy with the BC Liberals.
“To see in the report from Mr. Plecas that Mr. James expensed visits to see a former Premier, after she left this place, or a former Speaker, after he left this place, and allegations of truckloads of alcohol being delivered to a former member of this legislature is absolutely appalling for the people of B.C. Now we need to get to the bottom of this. Had Mr. Wilkinson adopted that position in December I would have some confidence that he is being genuine today.”
Horgan credits Speaker Darryl Plecas for revealing jaw dropping allegations of spending abuses by two senior legislative staffers.
“Aside from the bizzareness of the wood splitter and the travelling to London to buy a hat those things that just rub British Columbians the wrong way. The notion that there has been excesses at the legislature you are all aware of that, and I see heads nodding from those that are seasoned members of the gallery. Mr. Plecas was able to expose that because of this independence.”
Horgan says B.C.’s Auditor General is more than capable to conduct a forensic audit of the legislature.
He says there is a lot of work to do to address a culture of entitlement at the legislature.
