B.C.’s New Democratic Party is challenging the appointment of former premier Gordon Campbell to the Order of British Columbia, saying the honour has been tainted by his investiture.“The body is not cold, as they say,” NDP house leader John Horgan told reporters Tuesday, releasing a letter to the Speaker of the House demanding a clarification of the appointment.
Mr. Horgan said the committee that selects recipients erred by adding Mr. Campbell to the list of prominent British Columbians who have received the Order for their extraordinary contributions to the province. Previous recipients include rocker Brian Adams, artist Robert Bateman, environmentalist Vicky Husband and former Canucks captain Trevor Linden.
Although a number of former politicians have received the order, those still holding public office are ineligible for appointment, according to the law that governs the process.
Nominations closed on March 12, just days before Mr. Campbell officially vacated his seat. The appointment was announced on Sept. 3.
“That strikes me as out of order,” Mr. Horgan said.
“Mr. Campbell was not eligible on the day he was nominated and the Speaker and the committee should answer for that.”
However the law does not preclude a sitting MLA from being nominated: “A person who is an elected federal, provincial or municipal representative is not eligible to be appointed a member of the Order while that person remains in office.”
Mr. Horgan brushed aside the details as “a hair to be split.”
He said the selection committee – headed by B.C. Chief Justice Lance Finch – needs to explain its decision.
“It’s a question of rigging the deck, fixing it at the last minute for your buddy and that’s what it looks like.”
Mr. Campbell announced his decision to step down as premier last November because of the public backlash over the introduction of the harmonized sales tax, ending a ten-year term as premier. He is only the second ex-B.C. premier to make the list.
Former premier Bill Bennett was granted the honour in 2007 – 21 years after he left office.
In a letter to the Speaker of the House, Bill Barisoff, Mr. Horgan said the public “deserves clarification on this matter in order to maintain the integrity of the Order of British Columbia.”
Mr. Barisoff was not immediately available for comment. The ceremony for this year’s recipients is set for Oct. 4.
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Source: Globe&Mail
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