Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Football Pool: How many RCMP Investigations & Special Prosecutors will be appointed to investigate the BC Liberals while they are in power in BC?

Of all the backbenchers & caucas members Gordon Campbell & his BC Liberal backroomers could appoint as Solicitor General to replace John Les, who is now currently under investigation by the RCMP, they chose John van Dongen??? Has the world gone mad? Or at least the BC Liberals?

I'm quite sure Mr. van Dongen was found innocent of any allegations of wrongdoing, or, we at the very least we haven't heard anything further from the RCMP, or the Special Prosecuter appointed in his case, but C'MON!!!!! What is wrong with these people? Here is a link to the entire BC Liberal caucas, many of whom have never been investigated by the RCMP for interference in a RCMP investigation, or perhaps for any other reason. Can anyone keep count of all of the special investigations, Special Prosecutors appointed, how many BC Liberal Ministers have resigned under this government, some to be resurrected a little while later by the party (Hogg, Clark, Ferrell-Collins, van Dongen, Les). This appointment defies logic and reason and is continuing a long fact pattern of why Gordon Campbell & his BC Liberals are done in this province. The citizens of BC will not tolerate this malignant blight on our beautiful province any longer.
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Police investigate B.C. cabinet minister
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 28, 2003 4:13 AM ET CBC News

B.C. Fisheries Minister John van Dongen is out of the cabinet and being investigated by police. He said he was told the investigation involves his handling of an aquaculture file.
Van Dongen called reporters to his office Monday afternoon to make the announcement.
"I am stepping aside as minister due to a police investigation now under way. I was advised last night by the premier, who was informed by the attorney general that a special prosecutor will be appointed."

The former minister said, "I feel it is incumbent on me to step aside from my cabinet portfolio until this matter is resolved."

He said the police investigation involves an aquaculture file he handled in the fall of 2001, but said he cannot comment further.

"I was generally aware of a police investigation within the ministry. I was not aware until last night that I was personally under investigation," he said.

Van Dongen was first elected for the Liberals in a byelection in 1995. He since won re-election in the 1996 and 2001 general elections.

He was appointed to his present job as minister of agriculture, food and fisheries when the Liberals formed a government in June 2001.

The low-key van Dongen's most controversial file was his decision last year to lift the provincial moratorium on new salmon farm licences.
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CBC request for documents prompted RCMP investigation into B.C. cabinet ministerLast Updated: Tuesday, February 4, 2003 6:39 AM ET CBC News

Excerpt:

New details have emerged about the British Columbia fisheries minister who was forced to step down last week because of an RCMP investigation.

The police became involved in the case after CBC News: Disclosure requested government documents detailing John van Dongen's handling of a controversial fish farm file. It started two summers ago, when 30,000 Atlantic salmon escaped from a fish farm owned by the powerful Stolt Sea Farms. Van Dongen's department looked into the escape and cleared the company of any wrongdoing.

But B.C. Environment officials didn't let it drop. They opened their own investigation to see whether Stolt could be punished under the tougher federal Fisheries Act, claiming Atlantic salmon pose a threat to the fragile Pacific salmon stocks. That triggered a conflict with the B.C. Fisheries Department, and its minister.
The lead investigator into the escape wrote in an e-mail: "a great deal of discussion is continuing at John van Dongen's level regarding the follow-up investigation..." He adds "criticism of our action" is coming from Stolt (Sea Farms) and B.C. Fisheries (Department)."
In spite of criticism B.C. Environment officials recommended charges be laid.
Stolt's vice-president phoned the lead investigator and made it clear he knew the details of the confidential case. Sources have told CBC News it was van Dongen who tipped off Stolt.
While the environment officials considered their next move, a top official in van Dongen's department wrote a confidential memo noting the salmon farms were "a key ministerial priority" and that laying charges would be "sending conflicting messages to the industry," creating "negative impacts."

Van Dongen suggested this memo be forwarded to the premier's office. So did Stan Hagen, who has since replaced van Dongen as fisheries minister.

But B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell denies he ever saw the memo.
The investigation against Stolt Sea Farms was then quietly closed. The lead investigator wrote that the investigation has been significantly compromised, and justice has not been served. However the RCMP investigation into van Dongen continues.

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