Hands down
MLA Nicholas Simons said he did not make any “unparliamentary hand signals” in the legislature following a bizarre attack on his leader by a Liberal MLA. “I don’t even know what hand gesture I was accused of making,” he told the Peak. “If it was my left hand, it’s in a cast. It’s silly to make that suggestion.”
The accusation came in the wake of an uproar that was triggered by BC Liberal MLA Harry Bloy in the legislature on Monday, April 16. During a debate on smart meters, Bloy accused New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Adrian Dix of lying and stealing. He started the attack by accusing NDP energy critic John Horgan of changing his position on smart meters, quoting him as saying he was excited about the smart meter program.
“I’d like to know how excited he was, because he seems to speak out of both sides of his mouth,” said Bloy. “I can’t figure it out.
“Is he excited because the leader of the Opposition can’t fraudulently do something against the consumers of British Columbia, can’t lie and cheat and steal money from the citizens of British Columbia?
“Is that why he speaks out of both sides of his mouth? It really makes me wonder how a leader of the Opposition can steal from the public.”
Bloy was cautioned by Linda Reid, deputy speaker, but continued.
“You know, sometimes it really makes me wonder about the leader of the Opposition stealing from the public. Fraud. I wonder how he proposed to his wife. Is he like his good friend, Svend Robinson?”
Robinson, a former Burnaby NDP MP, pleaded guilty in 2004 to stealing a $64,500 engagement ring for his partner from an auction.
Reid demanded Bloy withdraw his remarks, which he did. He also apologized to Dix personally away from the legislature.
Simons speculated the accusation against him was made to deflect from what Bloy had said. “I don’t even know who I was alleged to have made a gesture toward, if there were a gesture that would be made toward somebody,” he said. “I have no idea. I wasn’t even thinking of making a hand gesture.”
Date change
Catalyst Paper Corporation announced on Monday, April 16, that meetings of its secured and unsecured creditors to consider the plan of arrangement under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) have been changed from Monday, April 23 to Wednesday, May 2.
The court date to sanction and approve the plan of arrangement has also been rescheduled from Wednesday, April 25 to Monday, May 7.
The new dates were set to accommodate court scheduling issues with the original dates.
The revised schedule will also provide court monitor, PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. and Catalyst additional time to complete the accounting review and verification requirements.
Catalyst has been under CCAA creditor protection since late January. If the restructuring plan is not approved by creditors, Catalyst has asked for court approval to sell its remaining mills.
The company and the 2016 noteholders have put forward a sales and investor solicitation process, which includes a “stalking horse bid.” This means the 2016 noteholders are prepared to bid to become the new owners of the company.
