B.C. Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay is denying that any MLAs were offered an inducement to give up their seats as she seeks a seat in the legislature.
Findlay has rearranged some roles within her shadow cabinet after two MLAs left the party, while another is stepping down to allow Findlay to seek a seat in the legislature.
Delta South MLA Ian Paton, who served as agriculture critic, said Monday he would leave the caucus and intends to start a new political party with fellow former Conservative Peter Milobar.
Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre and former finance critic, stepped away to sit as an Independent on Aug. 14. He said his values do not align with the new direction of the party under Findlay.
Findlay said Gavin Dew would be the new finance critic, Scott McInnis would lead caucus policy development while maintaining his role as Indigenous relations critic, and Bruce Banman would serve as shadow minister for both agriculture and tourism.
Kiel Giddens is set to take over Dew’s previous role as shadow minister for economic development, in addition to his role as labour critic.
Misty Van Popta will serve as deputy whip. She takes over for Reann Gasper, who said on Aug. 22 she was stepping down as MLA for Abbotsford-Mission so Findlay would have a chance to seek a seat in a byelection.
Findlay said Gasper would remain with the party in a leadership role as her deputy chief of staff.
The move raised questions about whether MLAs were offered any kind of inducement to give up their seats so Findlay could seek a seat in the legislature.
Under the Criminal Code, it is an offence to corruptly offer or give a member of a provincial legislature money, valuable consideration, an office, a position or employment in respect of something done or omitted in their official capacity. The code also makes it an offence to sell or purchase an appointment to or resignation from an office.
Paton said Monday that, before he left the caucus, Findlay had offered him a position as a political adviser for agriculture if he were to give up his seat.
Prince George-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird, who also announced Tuesday she would be leaving the Conservative caucus to sit as an Independent, said last month that Findlay had approached her about the possibility of vacating her seat, but Bird declined.
Findlay on Tuesday said multiple MLAs were approached about stepping down, but they were not directly offered anything in exchange.
“We did have some discussions, and I’ve said this publicly, that should you decide to do this, should you no longer be an MP [sic] or in caucus, we are open to discussing with you some role within the Conservative Party of B.C. where you’re still pursuing things on behalf of all of us and British Columbia,” said Findlay. “That’s not an unusual conversation to have, but allegations out there of something untoward are totally unfounded.”
Elections B.C. requires a byelection to be called within six months of a seat becoming vacant, except in certain circumstances.
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