A real heavy-hitter has been brought in to clear up what’s been happening at the BC Legislature.
A former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada is going to investigate allegations of spending abuses.
Beverley McLachlin's appointment is expected to go before the legislature for ratification on Thursday, but the three party house leaders announced they have retained her services.
Sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz and Clerk Craig James have been suspended with pay since November after members of the legislature learned of an RCMP investigation.
In a report released in January, Speaker Darryl Plecas alleges there has been inappropriate spending including on foreign trips.
Lenz and James deny any wrongdoing and have filed written responses that outline how their expenses were approved, and saying the Speaker's report harmed their reputations.
A committee that includes the three house leaders and oversees the management and financial operations of the legislature voted last month to conduct an independent fact-finding probe led by a top legal official.
McLachlin will conduct that investigation and present a final report to the house leaders by May 3.
- With files from the Canadian Press
