BC Liberal Party leadership candidate George Abbott is calling for an independent, third-party review of the process that led to the province picking up the $6 million tab for BC Rail trial defendants Dave Basi and Bob Virk’s legal fees.
“It’s a very big issue across the province,” Abbott said.
“There are a lot of people who are concerned and frustrated and, in some cases, angry about that settlement, particularly given that the defendants in that case pleaded guilty and so there’s some puzzlement about why we would carry the legal costs for two defendants who had pleaded guilty.”
Abbott said the third-party review was part of the 18-point plan he rolled out January 4 to outline his leadership approach.
The third-party review into how the settlement occurred, he said, underlines the kind of leadership he’s looking to demonstrate.
“It underscores the necessity of reconnecting with the grassroots of the province and winning back the trust and confidence of British Columbians,” he said. “One of the areas where I think people do not have trust and confidence is around the settlement on BC Rail.”
He clarified the review would not seek to re-open the case.
“We cannot and should not do that,” he said, noting the settlement was court-sanctioned.
“The aim is not to re-open that, it’s rather to ensure that the processes and the outcomes around that $6 million settlement were appropriate and reasonable.”