Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Conflict of interest claim throws B.C. cabinet minister’s return into doubt

Justine Hunter and Robert Matas Victoria and Vancouver Globe and Mail Update Published on Tuesday, May. 04, 2010

Premier Gordon Campbell has reinstated his solicitor-general, Kash Heed, just weeks after the minister resigned over a police investigation into alleged campaign improprieties. But less than an hour after Mr. Heed spoke to reporters about his return to cabinet, the special prosecutor who cleared him resigned, citing a conflict of interest question and throwing the validity of his ruling into question. Mr. Campbell said he had restored Mr. Heed to cabinet because Terrance Robertson, the special prosecutor handling the sensitive case, had absolved Mr. Heed of wrongdoing in a decision on Monday.

But in a letter released late Tuesday by the criminal justice branch, Mr. Robertson said he was aware that his law firm had contributed $1,000 to Mr. Heed’s election campaign when he took the assignment. “Given that charges were not approved against Kash Heed and upon further reflection, I have concluded that my continuing as special prosecutor on this matter may well provoke comment from the public and the media as to whether I am sufficiently independent to act as special prosecutor on this matter.” He added that he has “complete confidence” in his finding but he is “not in a position, due to the conflict, to continue.”(more)

2 comments:

Kalwest said...

Will this conflict be referred to the Bencher's of the BC Law Society.

erik said...

Ha! Too Funny!