Craig James resigned as clerk of the B.C. legislature effective Thursday (May 16) after former Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin found that he engaged in improper spending.
Legislature sergeant at arms Gary Lenz was also investigated but cleared of all allegations.
The new developments were announced in the legislature by government house leader Mike Farnworth.
No financial settlement is involved in James’ resignation.
The pair were suspended with full pay last November after Speaker Darryl Plecas leveled accusations of improper spending on overseas junkets and on personal benefits.
“The special investigator found that Mr. James did engage in misconduct with respect to four of the five allegations, specifically in relation to making expense claims where improper purchases of a personal nature, by directing the creation of three benefits to his personal advantage outside established protocols, improperly removing legislative assembly property from the precinct and by improperly using legislative property,” said NDP government house leader Mike Farnworth.
This is Craig James’ statement:
“This morning I retired as Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. I have been in public service for more than four decades, and with the Legislative Assembly for more than 32 years. I made many friends, achieved much, and have fond memories — of the people, and the institution.
“But I have had enough. I have been publicly ridiculed and vilified. My family has been deeply hurt and continues to suffer humiliation. In an effort to put an end to that, I have decided to retire, and reach a settlement with the Legislative Assembly.
“When the Speaker’s allegations were finally disclosed to me, I had much to say about them. I provided detailed written submissions and supporting documents, all of which are in the possession of the Legislative Assembly, many of which are not referred to or addressed in the Special Investigator’s Report, and almost none of which are likely known to the public or the press at this time.
“I believe the public has a right to see those submissions and documents, so they can know and understand the whole picture and judge the truth of these matters for themselves.”
– Les Leyne, Times Colonist
