Saturday, May 23, 2009
Basi Virk: RCMP wanted to tackle Gary Collins. “I am politically astute enough to know that this is a really, really, really bad thing,” said Collins
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Solicitor-general ‘intervened’ with RCMP, court told
Mark Hume
Globe and Mail - May 4, 2007
The solicitor-general of British Columbia “intervened” in a politically explosive RCMP investigation by heading off police before they could interview one of the most powerful members of cabinet, the Supreme Court of British Columbia was told yesterday.
Defence lawyer Michael Bolton said an RCMP investigative team was set to fly to Hawaii to track down Gary Collins, then finance minister, the day after police raided the B.C. Legislature on Dec. 28, 2003.
The police wanted to tackle Mr. Collins with questions about his trusted ministerial aide, Dave Basi, as soon as possible after the raid, which generated massive news coverage in B.C.
Police, who at the time were investigating alleged breaches of trust by Mr. Basi and two other civil servants in the privatization of BC Rail, also intended to interview transportation minister Judith Reid, who was holidaying on the islands.
But Mr. Bolton said police decided not to go, even though they had cleared their Hawaii visit with the FBI attaché in Vancouver, after solicitor-general Rich Coleman’s office contacted senior officers.
“The government is concerned that Collins and Reid could inadvertently expose cabinet confidences,” said an RCMP briefing note on the solicitor- general’s concerns, which Mr. Bolton read in court.
“The solicitor-general intervened,” Mr. Bolton said. “The solicitor-general has become very involved in the investigation. … [He's] making investigative decisions such as when to interview Mr. Collins.”
Mr. Bolton said police didn’t take a statement from Mr. Collins until some two months later.
Mr. Coleman, who is now forests minister, rejected the allegation. “I’m not going to comment on what’s before the courts, but I can tell you at no time during my time as the solicitor-general of this province did I influence any police investigation,” Mr. Coleman told CTV in Victoria.
But in court, Mr. Bolton read parts of a statement Mr. Collins gave police in which he said one of the first people he called when he heard about the legislature search was Mr. Coleman.
“I am politically astute enough to know that this is a really, really, really bad thing,” Mr. Collins said of the search. “So I managed to track down the solicitor-general … [who said] it had something to do with organized crime.”
{Snip} ...
The trial, which is giving glimpses into the backroom operations of the Liberals in B.C., has produced numerous allegations of political dirty tricks being directed by Dave Basi with the approval of Mr. Collins and top officials in Premier Gordon Campbell’s office.
Yesterday, a new assertion was made, that Pilothouse paid the mayor of Quesnel to attack CN in the local media. Mr. Bolton said Pilothouse, on behalf of OmniTRAX, paid Stephen Wallace $1,000, by writing a cheque to Wallace Driving School.
Court heard that Mr. Wallace, who is no longer mayor, said in a statement to police that he was paid $500 a day “to sample public opinion.”
Mr. Bolton said a Pilothouse note to OmniTRAX states: “Our friend understands where this originates from and is grateful. He went to the local media … and said CN will close the [BC Rail] line.”
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Solicitor-general ‘intervened’ with RCMP, court told
Mark Hume
Globe and Mail - May 4, 2007
The solicitor-general of British Columbia “intervened” in a politically explosive RCMP investigation by heading off police before they could interview one of the most powerful members of cabinet, the Supreme Court of British Columbia was told yesterday.
Defence lawyer Michael Bolton said an RCMP investigative team was set to fly to Hawaii to track down Gary Collins, then finance minister, the day after police raided the B.C. Legislature on Dec. 28, 2003.
The police wanted to tackle Mr. Collins with questions about his trusted ministerial aide, Dave Basi, as soon as possible after the raid, which generated massive news coverage in B.C.
Police, who at the time were investigating alleged breaches of trust by Mr. Basi and two other civil servants in the privatization of BC Rail, also intended to interview transportation minister Judith Reid, who was holidaying on the islands.
But Mr. Bolton said police decided not to go, even though they had cleared their Hawaii visit with the FBI attaché in Vancouver, after solicitor-general Rich Coleman’s office contacted senior officers.
“The government is concerned that Collins and Reid could inadvertently expose cabinet confidences,” said an RCMP briefing note on the solicitor- general’s concerns, which Mr. Bolton read in court.
“The solicitor-general intervened,” Mr. Bolton said. “The solicitor-general has become very involved in the investigation. … [He's] making investigative decisions such as when to interview Mr. Collins.”
Mr. Bolton said police didn’t take a statement from Mr. Collins until some two months later.
Mr. Coleman, who is now forests minister, rejected the allegation. “I’m not going to comment on what’s before the courts, but I can tell you at no time during my time as the solicitor-general of this province did I influence any police investigation,” Mr. Coleman told CTV in Victoria.
But in court, Mr. Bolton read parts of a statement Mr. Collins gave police in which he said one of the first people he called when he heard about the legislature search was Mr. Coleman.
“I am politically astute enough to know that this is a really, really, really bad thing,” Mr. Collins said of the search. “So I managed to track down the solicitor-general … [who said] it had something to do with organized crime.”
{Snip} ...
The trial, which is giving glimpses into the backroom operations of the Liberals in B.C., has produced numerous allegations of political dirty tricks being directed by Dave Basi with the approval of Mr. Collins and top officials in Premier Gordon Campbell’s office.
Yesterday, a new assertion was made, that Pilothouse paid the mayor of Quesnel to attack CN in the local media. Mr. Bolton said Pilothouse, on behalf of OmniTRAX, paid Stephen Wallace $1,000, by writing a cheque to Wallace Driving School.
Court heard that Mr. Wallace, who is no longer mayor, said in a statement to police that he was paid $500 a day “to sample public opinion.”
Mr. Bolton said a Pilothouse note to OmniTRAX states: “Our friend understands where this originates from and is grateful. He went to the local media … and said CN will close the [BC Rail] line.”
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Comments:
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We've come full circle now and Rich Coleman is once again the Solicitor General of British Columbia after John Van Dongen had to tender his resignation to the Premier over some trivial driving violations.
So we move from John Les (I can't believe I'm under this cloud) to 'moving violation' Van Dongen and back to 'It wouldn't be prudent' Rich Coleman....
Great Justice system British Columbia...
But then, what would you expect in a province that re-elects Gordon Campbell, not once - but twice...
How do you manage to maintain your optimism Mary?
Great Justice system British Columbia...
But then, what would you expect in a province that re-elects Gordon Campbell, not once - but twice...
How do you manage to maintain your optimism Mary?
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G West, thanks, if you think I have maintained my optimism about the future of British Columbia.
Truth is that I'm grieving, along with about 48% of the province who are aware of the perils ahead.
I think it's right, to grieve.
Then we carry on again. Because I think we're probably hard-wired to never give up on things we truly love ... like the landscape so imprinted upon our souls.
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G West, thanks, if you think I have maintained my optimism about the future of British Columbia.
Truth is that I'm grieving, along with about 48% of the province who are aware of the perils ahead.
I think it's right, to grieve.
Then we carry on again. Because I think we're probably hard-wired to never give up on things we truly love ... like the landscape so imprinted upon our souls.
.
I ALWAYS KNEW COLEMAN WOULD COME AROUND, AGAIN.
I'm sure that with the last two S/G's Coleman still hand his dirty fat hands on 'some' files...
I'm sure that with the last two S/G's Coleman still hand his dirty fat hands on 'some' files...
# posted by 
: May 25, 2009 at 9:05 a.m.
: May 25, 2009 at 9:05 a.m.
So, what other RCMP files under investigation got the nudge/nudge/wink/wink special treatment to slide on sideways . . . sanitizin away from the political mucky mucks and their senior bureaucrats - otherwise known as the Untouchables, as far as the Justice System is concerned?
As I recall from pre-trial hearings, wasn't it Inspector DeBruyckere that was hot to trot over to Hawaii to nail Collins prior to the political interference?
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As I recall from pre-trial hearings, wasn't it Inspector DeBruyckere that was hot to trot over to Hawaii to nail Collins prior to the political interference?
# posted by : May 26, 2009 at 2:53 p.m.
: May 26, 2009 at 2:53 p.m. << Home
