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The house leaders are expected to make a statement later Thursday.

The flurry of activity comes after a dramatic Wednesday evening at the legislature.

Farnworth and the premier’s senior staff met in a conference room near the legislature chamber after the house adjourned around 6:45 p.m. While that meeting was ongoing, acting clerk Kate Ryan-Lloyd emerged from Plecas’ office in tears.

After going to her own office at the far end of the corridor, Ryan-Lloyd returned to the conference room and spent almost half an hour meeting with Farnworth and head of the civil service Don Wright, as well as the premier’s chief political advisor Geoff Meggs.

Later, Plecas himself came from his office and went directly to Ryan-Lloyd’s office. Asked what was happening, he said:

“We are taking steps to safeguard data around here. It is nothing more than that.”

Asked why Ryan-Lloyd had left his office distraught an hour earlier, Plecas replied: “Kate is very sensitive about these issues.”

Farnworth maintained that the situation was in hand.

“The clerk is fine,” he said. “And the only thing I will say is, I will probably have more to say tomorrow.”

Asked if Ryan-Lloyd has his support as acting clerk, Farnworth replied: “Absolutely. On that there is no issue.”

Farnworth will be moving a motion in the legislature Thursday for an all-party committee to recruit a new permanent clerk of legislature, replacing former clerk Craig James who retired after a spending scandal.