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VICTORIA — The office of Ombudsperson Jay Chalke reported this week that he remains on track to wrap up his 18-months-long investigation into those botched firings in the health ministry.

On that basis, British Columbians can expect answers before the election on one of the murkiest scandals in the life of the B.C. Liberal government.

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The affair erupted into the headlines in September 2012 with the firing of eight drug researchers from the health ministry, amid allegations of wrongdoing that included data breaches, contractual irregularities and matters that were said to have necessitated referral to the RCMP.

There followed lawsuits, out of court settlements, reinstatements, apologies and several investigations, none conclusive.

Before the serial backdown got underway, one of the researchers, Rod MacIsaac committed suicide. Afterwards, it came out that there never was a proper investigation by police, as they never obtained sufficient evidence from the government to justify it.