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“You are darn right there was political interference,” she said. “Maybe not at the beginning, but it certainly started while Roderick was still alive.”

Her brother took his own life about four months after he was fired.

Kayfish said the handling of the matter has been entirely political from the point in 2012 when the health minister at the time alleged in the legislature that criminal activity was involved and implied the possibility of an RCMP investigation.

“This whole business was just riddled with stink,” Kayfish said.

Photo by Family handout / PNG

“The premier would have us believe this all falls on the head of the Public Service Agency.”

Ombudsperson Jay Chalke’s report said the eight workers were dismissed after a flawed and rushed investigation and didn’t deserve the personal, financial and professional harm they suffered. He said the premier and other officials did not direct the dismissals, but were aware of them.

Clark said Tuesday she sympathized with Kayfish’s grief and is ready to offer an apology in person, but stands by the position of her government and the ombudsperson that there was no political interference.

Photo by DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS

“If it would bring Ms. Kayfish some closure, absolutely, I’d be quite happy to repeat the apologies (to her) that the government made on behalf of the civil service in the legislature,” Clark said minutes after calling the election.

A statement from Kayfish’s lawyers alleged the government “knowingly subjected (Kayfish) and the others to needlessly hurtful and alienating treatment.”

“It’s just not good enough to say that you regret what happened, why don’t you say what you did,” lawyer Gary Caroline said. “Maybe that way an apology would be heartfelt.”

A retired Supreme Court of Canada judge has been appointed by the B.C. government to oversee reparation payments that were recommended in Chalke’s report.

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