BC Liberal leader says there is a 'very limited set of information' and 'the public have a right to know'

Day after learning Alan Mullen was investigating Gary Lenz, BC Liberals say Plecas wanted Mullen to be sergeant-arms

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – The house leaders of B.C.’s three major parties are set to meet to discuss the future of the speaker. This comes as we learn new details about his involvement in the investigation at the legislature.

The BC Liberals are now out with a claim that speaker Darryl Plecas suggested that Alan Mullen, his special adviser, should be named sergeant-at-arms.

Opposition House leader Mary Polak released a sworn affidavit today.

“On Nov. 19, 2018 at approximately 8 p.m., I attended a meeting in the Office of the Speaker of the British Columbia legislature with Honourable Mike Farnworth, MLA Sonia Furstenau, Speaker Darryl Plecas, and a lawyer. During that meeting, speaker Darryl Plecas stated his wish that Alan Mullen be appointed as acting sergeant-at-arms of the legislature after the departure of Gary Lenz from that position.”

The party is calling that entirely inappropriate.

“Our response was ‘no,’ quite firmly,” Polak said.

She said that meeting lasted an estimated 30 to 45 minutes.

Government House leader Mike Farnworth also says Plecas suggested Mullen for sergeant-at-arms. He too calls the suggestion inappropriate and says he rejected it.

We learned on Wednesday that Mullen had been investigating the now-suspended sergeant-at-arms, Gary Lenz, since January. Mullen said he was hired by Plecas in January. Polak said during the Monday meeting, she did have that information.

“I think all of us are concerned that we found out yesterday that a seven-month investigation was being conducted by someone with no legal training or policing experience and this has been effectively hidden from the accountable assembly, which is the legislature,” said BC Liberal leader Wilkinson.

He says the next steps depend on what other facts surface. “We have a very limited set of information and we’re doing our level best to get that in the public domain because the public have the right to know the truth about what’s happened this week.”

He refused to discuss why his party finds Plecas’ request was inappropriate. “The appropriateness of this is something that needs to be concluded by the people of British Columbia, by the media. People need to come to their own conclusions. It’s not my place to be making conclusions or allegations, at this point.”

“It’s not up to me to come to conclusions about the future of the speaker, at this point. I think it’s a matter of all of us trying to collect the necessary facts to make it possible to come to conclusions,” Wilkinson said.

“With more facts, more information, all of us will come to our own opinions and the people of British Columbia will form their own opinions.”

Plecas cancelled a planned media availability Thursday afternoon before his office revealed it has hired former Attorney General Wally Oppal as a second special adviser.

Meanwhile, the BC legislature adopted a motion to appoint Kate Ryan-Lloyd, currently deputy clerk and clerk of committees, as acting clerk. It also named Randy Ennis as acting sergeant-at-arms until further notice.

To ensure continuity, #BCLeg adopted a motion appointing Kate Ryan-Lloyd, currently Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees, as Acting Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and Randy Ennis, Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms, as Acting Sergeant-at-Arms, until further notice #BCpoli — BC Legislature (@BCLegislature) November 22, 2018

At the end of Question Period on Tuesday, NDP House Leader Mike Farnworth announced both Lenz and James had been placed on administrative leave, amid an RCMP investigation that dates back to September.

Two special prosecutors have been appointed to the case It’s still unclear what the investigation is about.

The sergeant-at-arms is responsible for maintaining order in the legislative chamber and other areas used for the business of the house.

The clerk of the house gives non-partisan advice to the Speaker and can be consulted on procedural matters, as well maintaining a record of all the legislature’s proceedings.

– With files from Marcella Bernardo and the Canadian Press