CAMPBELL WAS WARNED OF TROUBLE

Premier Suspected 'Police Matter' But Did Not Know Of Raid In Advance

Premier Gordon Campbell was warned before he left for a holiday in Hawaii
last month that a significant police matter was in the works that might
require his attention while he was away.

But Campbell insisted Wednesday upon return from his annual Hawaiian
holiday that he doesn't know substantially more than the public does about
the organized crime and drug investigation that resulted in a dramatic Dec.
28 raid on the B.C. legislature.

Police have not revealed what prompted the raid, nor what they found when
they searched legislature offices.

Speaking to more than 30 reporters packed into his office, a tanned
Campbell said that Solicitor General Rich Coleman told him prior to his
holiday departure in mid-December that he might need to reach Campbell in Maui.

"The solicitor general told me before I left in December that there was
something potentially coming up that he wouldn't be able to tell me until
he knew for sure,'' Campbell said, adding that Coleman told him: " 'I'll
have to know how to get a hold of you.'

"I assumed it was a police matter,'' Campbell acknowledged.

But Campbell said he didn't know anything about the raid until after it had
been completed and the legislative offices of ministerial assistants David
Basi and Bob Virk had been searched.

The premier said Coleman left him a message on the evening of Dec. 27 and
said he would need to talk to Campbell the next day. When Campbell returned
his call that night, Coleman said he couldn't speak to him until the morning.

The premier said Coleman called on Dec. 28 and informed him of the raid.
Coleman also briefed government chief of staff Martyn Brown that day. "Mr.
Brown then talked to me and we agreed on a course of action,'' Campbell said.

That action included the firing of Basi and the suspension with pay of
Virk. Campbell vigorously defended those moves but insisted that Basi's
firing was based on the nature of his job, as ministerial assistant to
Finance Minister and Liberal house leader Gary Collins.

Campbell rejected theories that the government's decisive action on Basi
indicated it was acting on deeper information about the case.

"I don't have any information on what was being searched for, I haven't
seen the warrants,'' Campbell said. "Mr. Basi's role as a ministerial
assistant to the house leader is an important role. It does involve
confidence across government with the opposition and we felt, in view of
the information that was available, that it was important that we take the
action we did.''

"Mr. Basi (had) a different job than Mr. Virk did. I thought it was
important that Mr. Basi be, in fact, severed and that's what happened .. I
think we've acted appropriately. Others may disagree.''

Campbell also said he was unaware of Basi and Virk's organizational
activities in the federal Liberal party. He said ministerial aides are
discouraged from participating in federal politics.

As solicitor general, Coleman is apprised of all major police
investigations on a confidential basis and before leaving on holidays last
week he told reporters that he strictly maintains that confidence. He also
said he had briefed Campbell to the limited extent that he could.

Campbell said the only other government official with details of the
investigation is Attorney General Geoff Plant. He said it was important for
the government to maintain an "arms length" from the investigation.

"I don't think I know much more than anybody (in the public) does,''
Campbell added. "I know that the police have been carrying on an
investigation for 20 months. I know that they have said that this
investigation does not touch any elected official. I know that they have
come to the legislature and they have asked to look at two offices and
gather material out of two offices. That's part of their investigation and
I think we should recognize that we're fortunate to live in a country where
police can do that. Our job as government is to be as open about this and
as transparent (as possible) as we allow the investigation to run its course.''

Campbell rejected criticism that he should have cut short his vacation to
return to B.C. sooner.

"If I thought that I could have helped in any way, I would have,'' he said.
"If the RCMP had thought it would be helpful for me to be home, I would
have come home. I didn't feel that I could add anything.''

Campbell said the investigation would not hamper government operations. The
next session of the legislature begins Feb. 10 with the budget coming down
Feb. 17.

NDP Leader Carole James felt that Campbell raised more questions than he
answered during his news conference.

It is inconceivable that Basi would be fired because of what has been
learned through the news media, James said.

"If that's the case, everyone whose home or office has been searched by
police should be fired, including Bob Virk," she said. "Either the premier
fired Mr. Basi in an attempt to divert political heat or he knows more than
he is telling us."

Campbell has said that the raid had nothing to do with government business,
which raises the question of what was in the boxes carted out by police,
James said.

Campbell should also never have left on vacation after being told that it
was likely a critical police matter would arise while he was away, James said.

In Ottawa, Prime Minister Paul Martin again answered questions about the
police investigation, which has resulted in his top political campaign
workers and fundraisers being visited or raided by police.

He was asked if there is any possibility that laundered drug money might
have made its way into his campaign.

"The police are conducting an investigation," Martin said. "They made it
very clear, number one, that they are not investigating any political
parties and they have also asked no questions having to do with campaign
financing or anything along that line. That is not part of the questions
they have been asking."