VICTORIA — British Columbia's health minister says he wants the province's ombudsperson to review the controversial firings of eight government health researchers.
Terry Lake says he has begun the process to have newly appointed ombudsperson Jay Chalke review the dismissal process.
Lake has been under pressure by the fired drug researchers and the NDP to call a public inquiry instead.
A report last year concluded an investigation that led to the firings almost three years ago was flawed from the start.
The workers who were part of a drug research grant program lost their jobs in September 2012 after allegations of inappropriate and possible criminal conduct, and one of them committed suicide.
Charges were not laid and the RCMP never investigated the claims.