Premier Gordon Campbell did not improperly spend public money to attend a secretive meeting of the
Bilderberg Group in Spain this year, because he received “intellectual stimulation” that benefited all British Columbians, the province’s conflict commissioner has ruled. Conflict commissioner Paul Fraser said there’s no need for a public inquiry into why taxpayers spent $8,709.23 in airfare to send Campbell to the meeting from June 3 to 6 in Sitges, Spain. The secretive invitation-only Bilderberg meeting brought together 130 of the world’s most influential politicians and businesspeople, including Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger. The meetings are billed as a frank off-the-record conversation between world leaders on everything from international finance to nuclear security. “The intellectual stimulation and benefit the premier received by attending the meeting was, given his position as head of the government, also a benefit to the citizens of this province,” Fraser wrote in a 26-page decision. “Information is the currency of democracy and the source of knowledge that informs public policy.” Fraser’s decision was in response to a complaint by B.C. First party spokesman Chris Delaney, who is also a Fight HST organizer.
Premier Gordon Campbell did not improperly spend public money to attend a secretive meeting of the Bilderberg Group in Spain this year, because he received “intellectual stimulation” that benefited all British Columbians, the province’s conflict commissioner has ruled. Conflict commissioner Paul Fraser said there’s no need for a public inquiry into why taxpayers spent $8,709.23 in airfare to send Campbell to the meeting from June 3 to 6 in Sitges, Spain. The secretive invitation-only Bilderberg meeting brought together 130 of the world’s most influential politicians and businesspeople, including Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger. The meetings are billed as a frank off-the-record conversation between world leaders on everything from international finance to nuclear security. “The intellectual stimulation and benefit the premier received by attending the meeting was, given his position as head of the government, also a benefit to the citizens of this province,” Fraser wrote in a 26-page decision. “Information is the currency of democracy and the source of knowledge that informs public policy.” Fraser’s decision was in response to a complaint by B.C. First party spokesman Chris Delaney, who is also a Fight HST organizer.
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