The Speaker of the B.C. legislature suggested making his friend and special adviser the acting sergeant-at-arms shortly before the man holding that post was suspended, house leaders from all three parties confirmed Thursday.
Opposition House Leader Mary Polak stated in a sworn affidavit, released to the media, that Speaker Darryl Plecas raised the idea at a meeting with house leaders the night before sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz and legislature clerk Craig James were suspended.
The special adviser, Alan Mullen, played a prominent role in the suspensions and together with police escorted both men from the building after the dramatic motion to suspend them passed the house on Tuesday.
Mullen also made media appearances on behalf of Plecas and disclosed earlier that he played some role in investigating the issues behind the suspensions.
“Mr. Plecas, in the meeting, indicated that once Mr. Lenz had been removed from his position it was his desire to see Mr. Mullen placed in that position,” Polak, a Liberal MLA, told reporters. “Our response was ‘No’ quite firmly.”
Government House Leader Mike Farnworth and B.C. Green Party House Leader Sonia Furstenau both confirmed that Plecas suggested making Mullen the acting sergeant-at-arms.
“Yes, that suggestion did take place,” Farnworth said. “It took place when we were talking about how you would fill the positions that are on administrative leave, what the next steps would be.
“That suggestion was made and it was a very firm ‘No’ and everybody accepted that decision and then moved on.”
Farnworth said he rejected the suggestion because he did not believe it was the right approach to take.
“It was the wrong decision,” he said.
The legislature adopted a motion Thursday appointing deputy clerk Kate Ryan-Lloyd as acting clerk and deputy sergeant-at-arms Randy Ennis as the acting sergeant-at-arms until further notice.
The clerk is the legislature’s chief administrator, overseeing a $70-million annual budget, and the sergeant-at-arms oversees security.
Plecas initially said he would speak with reporters Thursday afternoon, but did not appear at the appointed time.
Instead, Mullen read a brief statement announcing the hiring of former attorney general Wally Oppal to serve as a second special adviser to the Speaker on “all things legal.”
“We could not be more honoured and pleased that Justice Oppal has agreed to come on as second special adviser,” Mullen said. “We look forward to meeting with him [Friday] morning.”
James and Lenz have been suspended with pay pending a police investigation regarding their administrative duties. Two special prosecutors have been appointed.
No details of the allegations have been released and no criminal charges have been laid.
Mullen told reporters Wednesday that he was named a special adviser to the Speaker in January, in part, to deal with concerns that Plecas had about the clerk and sergeant-at-arms.
Mullen said he spent a decade as a correctional manager at Kent Institution, a maximum security federal penitentiary in Agassiz, which is where he met Plecas, who served as an adjudicator there.
Mullen said he considers Plecas a friend and that there was no open job competition for his role.
He said he does not have a law degree, but has experience conducting investigations, including internal probes for the Correctional Service of Canada.
Mullen said he was involved in forwarding information to police in late August. The RCMP is now leading the investigation because it has jurisdiction over the legislature.
Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said the public deserves to know the facts of the case.
“I think all of us were concerned to find out that there had been a seven-month long investigation by someone with no legal training or policing experience and that this was being effectively hidden from the accountable assembly which is the legislature,” he said.
He added: “This is a test for our democracy. This is about accountability. And in this situation the accountability is unclear.
“So all of us have a deep strong interest in getting the facts on the table.”
Farnworth said he continues to have confidence in Plecas. “This is a challenging time in the Speaker’s office. I know that there are additional resources being looked at for the Speaker’s office.”
Premier John Horgan said he is heartened by the extraordinary work by staff in the offices of the clerk and sergeant-at-arms to make a relatively seamless transition “in the past number of days that have admittedly been among the more difficult we’ve seen in B.C, in a long long time.”
