When six-term councillor Ron Mattson seeks reelection in the capital suburb of View Royal this fall, he'll do so as a survivor of a reputation damaging encounter with the B.C. Liberal government.

"Recuperating," was Mattson's one-word response Wednesday when I asked how he was doing, having first noted the government's recent apology-by-pressrelease for the two-year ordeal inflicted on him.

A veteran project manager in the Ministry of Health, he was one of a half-dozen public servants fired by the Liberals in September 2012 over alleged wrongdoings in the handling of research into pharmaceutical drugs.

Mindful of the need to protect his political as well as his professional standing, Mattson lost no time fighting back. Witness his first-day response: "I am shocked that the government would mention conflict of interest, inappropriate contract management and data access, and having contacted the RCMP in the same press release in which they announced my dismissal when I have done nothing wrong."

He stayed at his council post and sued the government for wrongful dismissal and breach of contract. He also filed a separate defamation suit against Liberal Margaret MacDiarmid, who'd announced the firings in her first day on the job as minister of health.

The Liberals fought back, denying Mattson's charges and prolonging the damage via its own court filings. The case was set down for a full airing in B.C. Supreme Court this fall. Then late last month the government reached an out-of-court settlement with Mattson on terms that remain confidential.

The health ministry announced the settlement Aug. 25, via a press release - characteristic of the Liberal handling of this affair - distinguished more by what it didn't say than by what it did.

"The government advises that its decision to terminate Mr. Mattson was a regrettable mistake," the release read. "The government thanks Mr. Mattson for his long years of service as a loyal and dedicated public servant."

Regrettable mistake? By whom? Name names.

MacDiarmid was defeated in the 2013 election. But the release gave no indication that anyone has taken responsibility or paid a price.

And is this how the B.C. government treats its loyal and dedicated public servants - putting them through the wringer for two years, then apologizing via a mingy five-paragraph press release in the summer doldrums?

"The government regrets any hardship and possible loss of reputation which Mr. Mattson endured," the released continued. "The government wishes Mr. Mattson the best in his future endeavours."

Mattson, 61, is running for re-election, but chose not to seek reinstatement with a government capable of treating its employees in such brutal fashion.

The government expression of regret would be more credible if accompanied with an explanation for what provoked the minister of health to go, in the memorable phrase of the Victoria Times Colonist, "off with their heads" in the first place.

The Mattson settlement marked the third time this year that the Liberals have performed a public backdown in this affair.

Back in March they rehired Bob Hart, the ministry's fired director of data access, as "a demonstration of the government's continuing confidence in him." In July, they reinstated Dr. Malcolm Maclure as an evaluator of pharmaceutical drugs, praising him for his contributions to "improvements in health data privacy protection."