New BC Political Discussion - POST BC Election 2017

[misher]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

RCMP investigation is still ongoing. I'll wait for them.

In the meantime, these guys should be embarrassed. Their total lack of shame is indicative of a culture of riding on the taxpayer dime.

McLachlin found no wrongdoing by MLA Reid, as travel receipts appeared in line despite allegations from a former constituency staff member that they were not.

McLachlin was critical of Plecas for acting more like an investigator than the top administrator of the Legislative Assembly.

“It is not entirely clear why the Speaker did not bring his concerns to the attention of the Clerk and the Sergeant-at-Arms forthwith, as one would expect of a supervisory officer.”

McLachlin found some allegations had no merit, including alleged double dipping travel expenses by MLA Linda Reid and an alleged attempt by James to cover it up. In addition, McLachlin was critical of Plecas’ methods in bringing forward the allegations, which led to the two men being escorted out of the Legislature building by police on Nov. 20, 2018.

https://www.vancourier.com/370k-resi...lin-1.23825405

Looks like McLachlin was very annoyed at Plecas's actions.

Full report
https://www.leg.bc.ca/Documents/McLachlinReport.pdf

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

There are pictures of the wood splitter and trailer at their homes.

You could staple that picture to mishers face and he wouldn't admit it's true.

[misher]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

You could staple that picture to mishers face and he wouldn't admit it's true.

Uh it was at James home which I agreed to.....they weren’t in a relationship logically a wood splitter can only be at one home.

[WestCoastEcho]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

What exactly did Plecas "do to him" other than reveal what was happening? These bozos have been on paid leave for 6 months.

Read the Plecas report. Lenz was buying gifts for his wife overseas and expensing them.

Are you no longer defending James? He's obviously worse, but doesn't let Lenz off the hook at all. These are senior civil servants with no apparent ethical compass.

Reading McLachlin report, it completely exonerates Lenz of any wrongdoing. She examined 7 of Pleca's allegations against Lenz, and sided with Lenz with all of them, including the allegation that Lenz bought gifts for his wife on taxpayer's dime .

And on James, McLachlin only found evidence to support 4 of the 8 allegations against him, one on inappropriate expenses related to a suit that was deemed for personal use, second on inappropriate benefits, third on the removal of alcohol, and finally on keeping and using the wood splitter and trailer under his personal control at his house.

McLachlin found that there was no evidence to support the remainder of the allegations against James (improper receipt of vacation payouts, improper purchases of gifts and electronics, purchase of wood splitter, improper review of Reid expenses, and handling of ailing constable).

It appears the bulk of the issues found were issues surrounding lax or non-existent policies, such as the use of BC Ferries' Assured Loading Cards, and gift purchases.

Furthermore, McLachlin minced no words about Plecas' role as well. She said that "He seems to have seen his task as to create a credible criminal type case against Mr. James and Mr. Lenz, rather than promptly confronting and correcting the administrative practices he questioned.

He focused on an investigatory line of inquiry at the expense of his duty to ensure that the affairs of the legislative assembly were properly administrated on a current basis."

The most concerning of all is about big kerfuffle over Liberal MLA Linda Reid's supposed double dip expenses. Turns out all of the expenses could be properly explained for, despite what Plecas and his chief of staff thought otherwise.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by WestCoastEcho

Reading McLachlin report, it completely exonerates Lenz of any wrongdoing. She examined 7 of Pleca's allegations against Lenz, and sided with Lenz with all of them, including the allegation that Lenz bought gifts for his wife on taxpayer's dime .

It cleared him of workplace wrongdoing, he's still under RCMP investigation and an audit by the auditor general and is still suspended from work until those are complete.

[misher]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

It cleared him of workplace wrongdoing, he's still under RCMP investigation and an audit by the auditor general and is still suspended from work until those are complete.

She found that Plecas had committed some of the same violations he later reported and had quite a bit of criticism for him:

Plecas was the whistleblower who started the process that led to James’ downfall. But McLachlin took a severe view of how he handled the role. She noted that he went along with some of the conduct that he later criticized. He signed off on some of the benefits that he now impugns, she said.

He became increasingly concerned and developed a new perspective on the problems.

“Yet the Speaker said nothing.”

McLachlin questioned why Plecas, as the boss, didn’t take up the problems with his underlings.

She said he viewed it as a police investigation and criminal proceeding, rather than promptly confronting and correcting the problems.

“He focused on an investigatory line of inquiry at the expense of his duty to ensure the affairs of the legislative assembly were properly administered.”

Nonetheless, his suspicions about the clerk appear to be confirmed.

One of McLachlin’s observations on the log splitter sums up the entire story: “It’s hard to understand what was going through Mr. James’ mind.”

https://www.vancourier.com/les-leyne...all-1.23825529

[WestCoastEcho]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

It cleared him of workplace wrongdoing, he's still under RCMP investigation and an audit by the auditor general and is still suspended from work until those are complete.

What's the likelihood that a RCMP investigation would find something that could stand up in court, especially after McLachlin's report? Doesn't look like the chances of that are extremely high now.

Remember, to charge someone, you need both proof that a crime was committed (there's some question regarding that per McLachlin), that the person knew what they did was wrong (ditto), and that the person intended on committing a crime. Generally otherwise, it's not considered criminal, and the RCMP might not be able to recommend a charge.

At most, the auditor general might find that Lenz may have been negligent, but nothing that rises to the level of criminality.

[retro_orange]

1. theBreaker.news‏ @theBreakerNews
   The former B.C. premier, whose administration was widely criticized for its utter lack of empathy, is now flying the empathy flag as chair of a Toronto-based NGO. #bcpoli #vanRE
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   https://twitter.com/theBreakerNews/s...30210527449090

Whatever.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

1. https://twitter.com/theBreakerNews/s...30210527449090

Whatever.

Like Marie Antoinette running a Food Bank.

[misher]

https://www.vancourier.com/opinion/m...oss-1.23833283

Metro Vancouver politicians approve themselves more pay to cover tax loss
Feds rule that one-third of civic politicians’ pay no longer tax exempt

Must be nice to be able to give yourself a raise to cover any tax increases. You can tax the rich as long as they aren't in public office apparently.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by misher

https://www.vancourier.com/opinion/m...oss-1.23833283



Must be nice to be able to give yourself a raise to cover any tax increases. You can tax the rich as long as they aren't in public office apparently.

Are you saying these officials are rich? They make pretty good money, but I wouldn't do their jobs.

[misher]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Are you saying these officials are rich? They make pretty good money, but I wouldn't do their jobs.

What monthly income level do you consider rich? Also you'd have to add 30% to account for benefits.
The examples in the article both make more than $140,000 before benefits.
The Metro Vancouver board is just one of the groups that voted to give themselves raises after the tax increase btw.

A Metro committee chairperson earns $397 a month.
Metro board and committee members get $397 to attend a meeting that lasts up to four hours.
That $397 climbs to $794 for a meeting that goes more than four hours.
Daily remuneration is capped at $794.

But it was the panel’s conclusions that led to the board’s approval of the “one-time adjustment” to cover the 15 per cent loss. The board also doubled the Electoral A director’s salary from $11,503 to $24,000 per year.

The question of a retirement allowance remains and the panel successfully recommended that it be answered by the Union of B.C. municipalities. Until then, expect some politicians’ arguments about how they’re underpaid to continue.

Dhaliwal: “Local elected officials do not get compensated fairly.”

Not, he added, when you total up the hours worked, the responsibilities of the job, the policies introduced and—for some—giving up or pausing a more lucrative career to become a politician.

How much do you expect a city Councillor to be paid?

[Migrant_Coconut]

Singapore politicians are paid about $1.5-2 million a year, and for the most part corruption and graft are low.... I don't have a witty conclusion for this one, I'm just putting it out there.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by misher

What monthly income level do you consider rich? Also you'd have to add 30% to account for benefits.
The examples in the article both make more than $140,000 before benefits.
The Metro Vancouver board is just one of the groups that voted to give themselves raises after the tax increase btw.

How much do you expect a city Councillor to be paid?

I asked you the question. No doubt any elected job is a 24/7 thing. The top tax bracket in BC is $153,900+ and in Canada it's $210,371+ I'd consider those folks to be "rich".

Sure it's got perks, but couldn't pay me enough to put up with the bullshit (maybe you could, but it would be in the $500k range).

[misher]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I asked you the question. No doubt any elected job is a 24/7 thing. The top tax bracket in BC is $153,900+ and in Canada it's $210,371+ I'd consider those folks to be "rich".

Sure it's got perks, but couldn't pay me enough to put up with the bullshit (maybe you could, but it would be in the $500k range).

I don't see it as having much "bullshit" or stress compared to most 24/7 jobs but I guess we speak from different experiences.

[djmk]

Originally Posted by misher

I don't see it as having much "bullshit" or stress compared to most 24/7 jobs but I guess we speak from different experiences.

yikes. I would not want a job where every time I open my mouth it could end up in the news. Or do one mistake (like yell at your kid in public, or drink and drive, or give a compliment the wrong way to the wrong person) and people will bring it up for the rest of your life.

$140K is a joke. I would not put up with that for that kind of money and risk only to be fired in the next election

[misher]

https://twitter.com/robshaw_vansun/s...76294417502209

BC NDP MLA Doug Routley calls a BC Liberal a "fat fuck" today. Probably will hit the news later. With over 20% of the province being obese (Well over 20% in his electoral district) I doubt insulting someones weight will go over well.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by misher

https://twitter.com/robshaw_vansun/s...76294417502209

BC NDP MLA Doug Routley calls a BC Liberal a "fat fuck" today. Probably will hit the news later. With over 20% of the province being obese (Well over 20% in his electoral district) I doubt insulting someones weight will go over well.

Was it Rich Coleman?

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Was it Rich Coleman?

Doesn't matter if it was Doug Ford in a Stay Puft suit, basic First World decency means you don't say it.

[Millennium2002]

Funny enough, I instead see this news release when searching around for BC NDP:

B.C. Liberal MLAs apologize for offensive remarks: NDP statement

by Carlito Pablo on May 28th, 2019 at 3:06 PM

The ruling B.C. NDP caucus has issued a statement regarding the conduct of two Liberal MLAs.

According to New Democrats, B.C. Liberals Jas Johal and Ian Paton have apologized for “offensive remarks” they made in the legislative assembly Monday (May 27)...

https://www.straight.com/news/124655...-ndp-statement

Ideally, neither side should be throwing insults at each other or their constituents. End of story.