BC Liberals Let Their Own Minister Virk Off The Hook Despite “Troubling” Report

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NDP Says Advanced Education Minister Should Be Fired Over Damning Kwanlen “Payout”!

“While he was Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s governor responsible for ensuring the rules on limiting and disclosing executive salaries were followed, Amrik Virk broke those rules in at least two separate cases,” said New Democrat Leader John Horgan. “Mr. Virk cannot now be the minister responsible for ensuring post-secondary institutions follow the same rules he broke as a university governor.” Could Virk be Premier Christy Clark’s first cabinet casualty? He should be given the conclusions of the report. But Christy is bound to look the other way as Virk is the only Indo-Canadian MLA she’s got in or out of cabinet!

By R. Paul Dhillon

VICTORIA – Following a report that shows the B.C. Liberal Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk and , a former Langley RCMP inspector, broke the government’s rules on post-secondary executive compensation limits and disclosure, the New Democrats say the premier must remove the minister from his post.

“While he was Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s governor responsible for ensuring the rules on limiting and disclosing executive salaries were followed, Amrik Virk broke those rules in at least two separate cases,” said New Democrat Leader John Horgan. “Mr. Virk cannot now be the minister responsible for ensuring post-secondary institutions follow the same rules he broke as a university governor.

“The Premier must remove him from his post.”

Could Virk be Premier Christy Clark’s first cabinet casualty? He should be given the conclusions of the report. But Christy is bound to look the other way as Virk is the only Indo-Canadian MLA she’s got in or out of cabinet.

The controversy involves government disclosure guidelines being violated by Virk who was the Governor on the Kwantlen University Board when two executives –including current Kwantlen President Alan Davis–were paid an extra 50-thousand dollars.

Horgan said the premier’s attempt to sweep this issue under the rug following the release of a report about Virk’s involvement shows she either doesn’t understand or doesn’t intend to enforce her own claims to having high standards and principles.

In March 2013, the premier said, “There is no value more important to me than respect for the taxpayer and ensuring that rules are properly followed.”

Just last week she said, “As premier of our province though I also have another responsibility and that is to every single British Columbian, and I have and I will always strive to maintain the highest standard of integrity.”

“Mr. Virk broke the rules on how much taxpayers pay to executives and the rules on disclosing those full amounts to the public,” said Horgan. “The Premier must live up to her own purported standards. Her own Advanced Education Minister failed to follow the rules, and failed to maintain the highest standard of integrity.

“He cannot be trusted to be the person that ensures others do.”

David Eby, New Democrat advanced education critic, said, “Mr. Virk excuses himself, claiming no one told him the rules he was supposed to follow. I sincerely doubt as a police officer, Mr. Virk ever accepted that excuse from someone accused of committing a crime.”

Eby said if Virk followed the premier’s principles of upholding rules and integrity, Virk would have already stepped down, and the Premier wouldn’t need to fire him.

David Eby also questions the timing of findings released on a busy news day, “They issued this announcement an hour before the Enbridge Northern Gateway decision and they’re hoping that this story goes away. Well, it won’t go away.”

The report into the controversial payout released Tuesday by Finance Minister Mike de Jong found that Virk was to have been involved in the discussions but later withdrew the motion after being told that the province would react “extremely negative” to the idea.

“Our advice at present is to hold off as the risk factors are very high. Stay tuned and hold off on the motion and conference call please,” Virk said in an email dated Nov. 7, 2011.

In April, Virk told the Now Newspaper that “no bursary money went to any president” and any suggestion that it had is “absolutely, categorically incorrect.”

Also contained in the review were findings that both Davis and KPU’s former vice president and provost Anne Lavack received $50,000 each for pre-employment work that was deemed by the auditor as “vague on deliverables.” In Lavack’s case, the numbers, when tallied, put her over KPU’s allowed compensation. Moving allowances were also provided for both.

“As a volunteer member of the board in 2011, I take responsibility for the issues surrounding the president’s compensation. The legislation and its intent must be followed. I appreciate the importance and value of transparency and disclosure. Along with all members of this government, I will work to ensure the post-secondary sector embraces and implements both the review recommendations and the taxpayer accountability principles Premier Clark announced on June 11,” Virk said in a statement.

de Jong said he’s troubled by a report that concludes Kwantlen Polytechnic University failed to meet government disclosure requirements by topping up salaries of senior executives.

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