On Thursday, Attorney General David Eby revealed that former BC Liberal Transportation Minister Todd Stone tried to give away an ICBC building and land worth $3 million to the Automotive Retailers Association (ARA).

In the transcript of the 2015 speech, Stone’s intent is clear:

“I am pleased to announce I have directed ICBC to transfer their training facility from their ownership and control to the ownership and control of the ARA. That training facility has an assessed value last year of just under three million dollars. So ICBC will be transferring that to the ARA as part of this new arrangement.”

But on Friday, BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson bizarrely claimed it was “nonsense” when challenged by CHNL host Howie Reimer:

Reimer: “I think the quote was, the previous Liberal government was trying to give away ICBC buildings to lobbyists.”

Wilkinson: “Well that’s just nonsense.” (Audio)

• On what basis is Wilkinson denying it?
• Did he have a conversation with Todd Stone after Eby surfaced this transcript?
• Does Stone deny it?
• As a cabinet member at the time, was Wilkinson aware at any point of Stone’s plan?

BC NDP MLA Ravi Kahlon:

“Even at a time they knew ICBC was going to have to raise rates, Andrew Wilkinson and the BC Liberals put their industry friends ahead of everyday British Columbians. Every step of the way, Wilkinson and the BC Liberals put the interests of lawyers and the auto sector first and made people pay the price. Now, Wilkinson is making stuff up to try to cover his tracks. British Columbians deserve better.”