The Biggest Political Scandal In B.C. History Still Shrouded In Secrecy Six Years Later

NANAIMO – On the sixth anniversary of the unprecedented police raid on the legislature, New Democrat MLA Leonard Krog says British Columbians are still waiting on the B.C. Liberals to come clean in the B.C. Rail corruption scandal.

On Dec. 28, 2003 RCMP officers raided B.C. Liberal ministry offices as part of an Leonard Kroginvestigation into allegations concerning three key political aides and the sale of B.C. Rail. Now, six years later, the critic for the Attorney General says the political corruption case is still before the Supreme Court of B.C. in pre-trial proceedings, plagued by many unanswered questions.

“It’s disturbing that six years later there are still so many unanswered questions around the biggest political corruption scandal in B.C. history,” said Krog. “It’s time the B.C. Liberals come clean and tell British Columbians the truth.” 

Krog says some of the top unanswered questions that still remain include:

Costs:

• Defence lawyers have complained repeatedly in court about the slow pace of disclosure from government. How much has six years of pre-trial proceedings cost B.C. taxpayers?
• Is there any reason to suspect political interference in this case considering the length of time it is taking to bring it to trial?

Accountability:

• Is it true that in November 2003, the B.C. Liberals authorized a consolation prize for OmniTRAX in exchange for that company staying in the bidding process?
• Information requested by the judge has only intermittently been released by the B.C. Liberals. What other information pertinent to the case are they withholding?

The Deal Itself:

• Did the B.C. Liberals’ deal with CN Rail include any requirement that CN maintain a minimum level of service to communities dependent on a provincial railway?
• CN now has the option to abandon portions of the former B.C. Rail line. Does the province have the right to buy back B.C. Rail without penalty if the buyer ceases or reduces operations?

“The central theme in all of these is that the B.C. Liberals have refused to come clean on this entire mess and British Columbians are worse off for it,” said Krog. “The glacial pace in which the B.C. Rail corruption trial is proceeding is a direct result of the B.C. Liberals refusing to answer questions related to the case.

“Unless the B.C. Liberals come clean on their record, such as the emails and documents surrounding the B.C. Rail deal, and the evidence gathered by police during their investigation, the only way British Columbians will ever get answers surrounding the biggest political scandal in B.C.’s history will be for the case to go to trial,” said Krog. “And that remains the biggest unanswered question of them all.”