VICTORIA — B.C.’s conflict commissioner is getting a $67,000 raise, after MLAs on both sides of the legislature agreed he has so much work that his position should be made full-time.

Paul Fraser, part-time conflict commissioner since 2008, will now be paid $269,365 a year, after a vote in private by the all-party legislative management committee last week was approved by Premier Christy Clark’s cabinet.

“The legislative assembly management committee recommended that the members’ conflict-of-interest commissioner be made a full-time position, and as such that he be compensated accordingly,” according to a statement by the Justice Ministry,

“An increased workload for the commissioner has necessitated expanding the position to full-time, so that the commissioner can manage questions from members to ensure that they are dealt with in a timely manner.”

The conflict commissioner advises MLAs about conflict of interest matters, and investigates any allegations that politicians benefited personally by decisions they made.

He most recently issued an opinion clearing Energy Minister Bill Bennett of a potential conflict of interest involving wildlife harvest allocation policies while at the same time having a financial interest in a guide-outfitting business.

Fraser hired an outside commissioner to rule on a case involving Premier Christy Clark in 2013 because of a family conflict. Fraser’s son, John Paul, is deputy minister in charge of government communications.

Previous conflict commissioners had their salary set at $202,000 or 75 per cent of the salary of the auditor general of B.C. A new cabinet order changed the formula to 100 per cent of the auditor’s salary.

Fraser was re-appointed in 2013 by a committee of MLAs to a five-year term.

rshaw@vancouversun.com

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