Article content continued

Plecas said Friday that a non-financial retirement settlement reached between the legislative assembly and James goes both ways, meaning that James doesn’t have to pay back the money for the retirement payout, suits and luggage.

“It’s my understanding the agreement that was struck, with regard to Mr. James’s retirement, was a non-monetary agreement, which meant that no money was paid to him and he wasn’t paying any back,” Plecas said Friday. “Why that’s the case, I have no idea, but that’s the way it is.”

Plecas, who wasn’t involved in negotiations for the settlement, said he learned that repayment of the retirement benefit had to be sought by a certain date and was not, which was the legislative assembly’s rationale for making the agreement non-monetary.

The house leaders for the three parties in the legislature could not be reached for comment on Friday.

“I think I made my position clear a long time ago, that any money that was taken when there was no legal reason to have it should be paid back,” Plecas said.

LISTEN: A bombshell report by former chief justice Beverly McLachlin into the legislature spending scandal lands. What allegations panned out and what fizzled into nothing? We hear audio from Speaker Darryl Plecas and suspended sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz. Also, Premier John Horgan launches a public inquiry into money laundering – a much-needed move for justice or transparent politics against the Liberals (or both)? Rob and Mike dig into and analyze the stories.