National

Former B.C. Minister's 'ethical Difficulties' Undeserved: Commissioner

The Canadian Press , 04 Sep, 2014 02:35 PM

VICTORIA - British Columbia's conflict of interest commissioner says former agriculture minister Pat Pimm did not breach conflict of interest rules when he contacted the Agricultural Land Commission about a proposed rodeo ground and camp site project on protected farmland.

Paul Fraser's 41-page decision says Pimm was acting as an enthusiastic politician supporting a proposed project in his Fort St. John-area riding and did not do anything that amounted to personal representation for a constituent or breach conflict laws.

Fraser says Pimm's enthusiasm wasn't ministerial interference and didn't raise potential ethical difficulties.

Pimm asked Fraser last November to provide advice to all B.C. members of the legislature about situations where their duties collide with the independent commission that protects farmland.

The land commission claimed Pimm's efforts on behalf of a local constituent to remove land from the ALR were inappropriate.

Pimm announced last January he is battling colon cancer and took a leave, prompting Premier Christy Clark to appoint Norm Letnick as agriculture minister last April.

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