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LETTER: Hard to make spending scandal 'go away'

Dear editor: Re: Splitting the Difference, May 22 Editorial Viewpoint. It's interesting that you opine that by settling with Mr. James our legislators think they can "make the whole mess go away.
B.C. Legislature

Dear editor:

Re: Splitting the Difference, May 22 Editorial Viewpoint.

It's interesting that you opine that by settling with Mr. James our legislators think they can "make the whole mess go away."

I believe that simply by engaging [former chief justice] Beverley McLachlin they very significantly compounded their problems.

I've asked Mr. Farnworth and the other two House Leaders if Ms. McLachlin had what I believe is the licence that such an assignment calls for. If you review what was reported in the media you can trace the statements made that she wasn't engaged to offer legal advice or make findings of a legal nature. That's because she doesn't have a licence to practice law, unlike many of her retired judicial colleagues. That of course is no comfort to Craig James.

One thing very few people know is that lawyers in B.C. are exempted from needing to hold a private investigators licence, one of several types of "security services" licences issued by an office within the Ministry of Solicitor General.

Several years ago I had some interaction with that office regarding another person who didn't have the requisite licence, so I know that office is not doing a good job of fulfilling its mandate.

There's an opportunity here for some investigative journalism.

Chris Budgell
Vancouver

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