VANCOUVER—Burnaby South’s federal Liberal candidate Richard Lee says he didn’t notice anything “irregular” during his 16 years in the B.C. legislature, despite the scandal that erupted on Monday.

His comments follow Monday’s release of a bombshell report from current independent Speaker Darryl Plecas. He alleged the B.C. legislature’s two highest-paid unelected officers — whom he suspended Nov. 20 — extravagantly spent taxpayer money on personal souvenirs, fancy scotches, suits, “luxurious overseas” trips and a $3,000 automatic woodsplitter.

Lee maintained on Sunday that he did not notice “anything about something irregular,” during his time in the legislature.

“First of all, I was deputy speaker but I don’t have any administrative role in this issue,” Lee said at a campaign event held on Sunday at his Burnaby office. “They have a committee and I was not one of the members.”

The RCMP has been investigating unspecified criminal allegations since late September and unusually appointed not one but two special prosecutors to oversee the probe to ensure it is free from influence or interference.

With the unanimous, bipartisan support of all MLAs — who were not informed of any details beyond the RCMP investigation — Plecas suspended Craig James, who oversaw the legislature’s $70-million budget and operations, and Gary Lenz, head of security.

Then, later in the week, attention turned to former speaker Linda Reid, who spent four years in the role, and her deputy Lee, who spent two years, as the report alleges years of “flagrant overspending” and expense fraud took place under their watch.

Both responded to calls for answers on Wednesday, vowing transparency and saying they supported the current spending investigations. But both sent statements without addressing allegations they knew or should have known about misspending during their tenure.

On Sunday, Lee noted that his personal expenses are documented, all on-record, and “very transparent.” Reporters questioned Lee on whether he was shocked about the allegations.

“I have great respect for the institution of the legislature, so I am a little bit surprised on what’s happening right now,” he responded.

The allegations further detail how staff at the B.C. legislature verbally tried to stop Plecas from going to outside police and from performing an in-depth audit on a variety of purchases.

On Monday afternoon, the all-party Legislative Assembly Management Committee voted that the legislature’s suspended clerk, James, and sergeant-at-arms, Lenz, have until Feb. 1 to formally respond to the accusations. The committee also ordered a public investigation by another province’s auditor-general and a “workplace review” into the alleged bullying and firing of whistleblowers.

The pair has said they did nothing wrong. Neither has been charged with any crime, and none of the allegations in the report have been tested in court.

Lee announced his run in Burnaby South, days after the sudden resignation of the Liberal candidate Karen Wang. He will face federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, Conservative Jay Shin, independent Valentine Wu and People’s Party of Canada’s Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson on Feb. 25 in Burnaby South.

On Sunday, he was accompanied by federal defence minister Harjit Sajjan at an event planned to hit the streets doorknocking.

“As our Prime Minister has always said, what he wanted was the people’s voice in Ottawa, not the other way around,” Sajjan said. “Making sure that when we get out, we talk to Canadians … that’s actually going to have an impact.”

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With files from David Ball

Melanie Green is a Vancouver-based reporter covering food, culture and policy. Follow her on Twitter: @mdgmedia

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