Vaughn Palmer: Pat on the back for Bellringer includes a few jabs by petulant Plecas
Credit to Author: Stephen Snelgrove| Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2019 03:14:22 +0000
VICTORIA — The day began with Speaker Darryl Plecas thanking Carol Bellringer for five years of service as auditor general.
“On behalf of all members of the legislative assembly, I wish to express appreciation to Ms. Bellringer for what she has accomplished during her tenure as an officer of the legislature,” declared Plecas via press release, in apparent sincerity.
But just last week the Speaker publicly faulted that same independent officer of the legislature, after her audit of expense spending at the legislature fell short of his expectations. Wasn’t that a little two-faced?
Not at all, insisted the Speaker’s chief of staff Alan Mullen, standing in for a boss whose response to many questions from reporters is a brusque “no comment.”
Yes, Plecas expressed “dismay” and “disappointment” at Bellringer’s report, Mullen conceded. But that was because the Speaker had hoped for a full-blown forensic audit into allegations that he had himself raised. Besides, he only criticized one report.
“It is not two-faced for the Speaker to come out and sincerely thank the auditor general and her team for their continued work,” said Mullen. “It is not based on one report.”
Still, just a few days after the Speaker voiced his criticisms, Bellringer handed in her notice. She will leave office Dec. 31, almost 20 months before the expiry of her eight-year term.
“We all know the timing,” Mullen acknowledged. “The report came out and five days later she resigned.”
Still he insisted there was no link between the Speaker’s criticism and Bellringer’s decision to pack it in.
“It seems that certain folks want to draw the lines because it’s more exciting to do so,” said the chief of staff.
“Ms. Bellringer is a seasoned professional. She’s been auditor general here, before this she was auditor general for Manitoba. I highly doubt that she’s going to lose sleep because one individual said he was disappointed in her audit. I know it is more exciting that way. It is just not true.”
He pointed to the statement from Bellringer herself, that she was leaving for personal reasons. “I think it would be disrespectful for us to speculate whether that’s the case or not.”
He further noted that Bellringer is refusing to do interviews on the subject. “We are going to respect that,” leaving it to the auditor general to come forward and contradict the Speaker’s version of events.
Before long, Mullen was back on the theme of Bellringer having missed the boat on the audit of expenses.
The legislature was “a candy store for corruption,” he told reporters.
“It is pretty clear and evident and obvious that there is more to this story. There is more information we need to get. I think what Speaker Plecas is disappointed with is — I’m disappointed that you did not find what I would certainly describe as low-hanging fruit. You don’t need a forensic audit to see what is plain and clear, but certainly a forensic audit would assist in that process.”
But Bellringer should know this was not an attack on her integrity or competence: “We have a lot of faith and a lot of respect for the office of the auditor general.”
I was reminded what happened in May with the report from Beverley McLachlin, former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
She looked into 15 separate allegations that Plecas had made against clerk of the legislature Craig James and sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz.
She found against James on four of the eight allegations, enough to precipitate his early retirement. But she did not find enough evidence to support any of the seven allegations against Lenz.
Plecas was incensed. In a meeting with house leaders of the three parties in the legislature, he described the McLachlin report as “pathetic” and one of the conclusions as “stupid,” according to notes taken by Mary Polak of the B.C. Liberals.
Was that the Plecas modus operandi — unless you go all the way with him in his allegations, he attacks?
“It is not about personalizing it — saying you disagreed with me so I dislike your report,” replied Mullen. “No it is saying I have found a lot of information and I have found a lot of wrongdoing and I am disappointed you did not find it, too.”
After more of the same — Mullen is nothing if not generous with his time — he fielded questions about the $13,000 he spent this summer visiting the capitals of three Canadian provinces and seven U.S. states.
“This was not a holiday. This was not a junket. This was not a road trip,” said Mullen, responding to characterizations in the media coverage. “This was a forward-looking review that I was asked and tasked to do.”
He did add one detail to news stories, which had him investigating security provisions at the various legislatures.
Now he said he was also looking for ways to reduce overtime bills at the B.C. legislature, which totalled $1.7 million over the past five years.
Beyond that, said Mullen, reporters should wait for his report, still in the drafting stage.
It has already taken him several weeks longer to write the report than the 30 days he spent on the road. But it will be a full accounting, Mullen assured reporters.
One can only hope that he submits the report in time for Carol Bellringer to audit it for low-hanging fruit before she goes.
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