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BC FIRST PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, October 14, 2010
BC CONFLICT OF INTEREST COMMISSIONER TO INVESTIGATE PREMIER CAMPBELL’S ATTENDANCE AT BILDERBERG MEETING
New information taken from Bilderberg website shows premier was not acting in official capacity while attending meeting
Port Coquitlam – BC Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Mr. Paul D.K. Fraser, has responded to the BC First Party’s request to conduct an investigation into Premier Gordon Campbell’s use of public funds to attend a private Bilderberg meeting in June 2010.
BC First Party spokesman, Chris Delaney, says Commissioner Fraser is reviewing the information sent to him to determine how he will proceed under the Member’s Conflict of Interest Act. Delaney says the Commissioner also invited him to forward any additional material relevant to the case.
“We submitted new documents taken from the official Bilderberg website http://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/index.php which support our contention that Premier Campbell is in a conflict of interest. Of particular importance is the posting on ‘Participants’ that says: ‘Participants attend Bilderberg in a private and not an official capacity.’,”said Delaney.
“This is a particularly damning statement. It shows unequivocally that the meeting was private and not a public or official meeting as the premier has said. The Act is clear, a member of the Legislature cannot take public funds for personal use," said Delaney.
Delaney pointed out that the Bilderberg website also makes clear that accommodations for the meetings are paid for by the local Bilderberg Steering Committee members of the host country.
“That means private Bilderberg members paid for the hotel and accommodations for the premier. He is required by law to submit a ‘disclosure statement of benefit’ for any private benefits received while a member of the Legislature. We are unaware of Mr. Campbell filing such a statement with the Commissioner,” said Delaney.
Delaney says if the Commissioner determines that Premier Campbell is in a conflict over the use of public funds to attend a private meeting, it will be the first time in BC history that a premier has been in an “actual” conflict of interest.
“Every other premier that has resigned over conflict of interest allegations has done so on the basis that there was an ‘apparent’ conflict. In this case, it is clear the meeting was private, that Premier Campbell knew it was private, that he used public funds to finance his participation in it, and that he received a private benefit in terms of accommodations while attending.”
“We look forward to the investigation, and will cooperate with the Commissioner in any way required to bring justice to this very serious potential breach of the Act,” Delaney concluded
CONTACT:
Chris Delaney, Spokesman (604) 942-6265 or (604) 880-4956
Blake Mackenzie, Communications (250) 483-4100