Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Former B.C. Speaker doesn't recall documents

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Feb, 2022 01:33 PM
  • Former B.C. Speaker doesn't recall documents

VANCOUVER - A former Speaker of British Columbia's legislature says he doesn't remember seeing many of the documents outlining retirement and financial benefits linked to a breach-of-trust trial.

Bill Barisoff told the B.C. Supreme Court trial of the former clerk of the legislature Craig James that he only saw some documents connected with benefits after the RCMP began investigating James, and when letters and memos were sent to him by the Crown.

James has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud over $5,000 and three counts of breach of trust by a public officer in relation to allegations that he used his position for personal gain.

The trial heard testimony earlier that James told the deputy clerk that based on legal advice Barisoff had determined that James was eligible for the $258,000 retirement benefit.

James was escorted from the legislature in 2018 amid a police investigation into allegations involving the retirement benefit, travel expense claims and the purchase of a wood splitter and trailer with public funds.

Barisoff says he was not involved in approving James's travel expenses, which would have been handled by a committee though he does not recall its name.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Federal ministers to address Ottawa protest

Federal ministers to address Ottawa protest
Amid blaring truck horns, the demonstration has included open fires, makeshift feeding stations, encampments and numerous — sometimes profane — anti-government signs.

Federal ministers to address Ottawa protest

Help for farmers being announced after B.C. floods

Help for farmers being announced after B.C. floods
Record rains combined with overflowing rivers in mid-November swamped farmland in several areas of southern B.C. and Vancouver Island. In the Sumas Prairie, a prime agricultural area in Abbotsford, water flooded barns, fields and homes.

Help for farmers being announced after B.C. floods

Kevin Falcon wins B.C. Liberal leadership race

Kevin Falcon wins B.C. Liberal leadership race
Falcon won on the fifth ballot, taking just over 52 per cent of the points available in a sometimes fractious leadership race where the former minister appeared to be the focus of attacks as the perceived front-runner.

Kevin Falcon wins B.C. Liberal leadership race

Lifting COVID measures requires balance: Tam

Lifting COVID measures requires balance: Tam
Vaccine mandates are not meant to be a punishment, federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Friday at the briefing. Rather they are meant to protect people and incentivize them to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Lifting COVID measures requires balance: Tam

GoFundMe cancels Ottawa protest fundraiser

GoFundMe cancels Ottawa protest fundraiser
The move could deny participants a vital source of funds as Ottawa braces for a new wave of protesters slated to arrive in the national capital this weekend. GoFundMe says it supports peaceful protest and that it believes that was the initial intention of the Ottawa event.    

GoFundMe cancels Ottawa protest fundraiser

Canfor unions reach deal setting pattern in West

Canfor unions reach deal setting pattern in West
Unifor and the Public and Private Workers of Canada say the four-year deal for 900 workers at Canfor will provide a $5,000 signing bonus plus wage increases of 2.5 per cent, 2.5 per cent, and three per cent in the following three years.

Canfor unions reach deal setting pattern in West