LEGISLATURE POLICE RAID DRAWS CRITICS

A former New Democrat MLA says the B.C. Liberals should hold
themselves to the same standards they expect of others in the growing
crisis over the police raid on the provincial legislature.

Former Mission-Kent MLA Dennis Streifel had that to say and more to
the Abbotsford News, in the aftermath of Sunday's raid on the offices
of two ministerial assistants of senior Liberal cabinet ministers.

However, police say the two ministers - Finance Minister Gary Collins
and Transportation Minister Judith Reid - were not the subjects of the
raid.

The files targeted were those of two ministerial assistants, David
Basi (Collins' assistant) and Bob Virk (Reid's assistant).

Police have confirmed a link between the investigation and the illegal
drug trade and organized crime.

Basi has been fired, while Virk has been suspended with pay. Both were
appointed to their positions by cabinet following the 2001 election.

No charges have yet been laid in the matter.

Abbotsford-Clayburn MLA John van Dongen told the Abbotsford News this
week: "I really don't have any comment on it. The only things I know
is what's in the media - the process of justice has to work."

He did not speculate as to whether the two ministers should step aside
during the investigation.

The legislature will be back in session the second Tuesday of
February, but van Dongen expects to be back in Victoria by Jan. 12.

His local counterpart, Abbotsford-Mt. Lehman MLA Mike de Jong, could
not be reached for comment.

Van Dongen stepped aside from his portfolio as agriculture, food and
fisheries minister in January of 2003, after learning police were
investigating his handling of an aquaculture file in the fall of 2001.

By April, he was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.

Streifel had plenty to say about the events surrounding Sunday's raid,
and the action the two MLAs should take.

Both should step aside until the matter is cleared, he told the
Abbotsford News, as the Liberals would have expected the same when
they were in opposition. "No question, they should come forward and
clear the air - they should hold themselves to the same standard they
hold others to," he said this week.

"They should do the honourable thing, that their leader didn't have
the courage to do when he was nabbed as a drunk driver."

However, he added: "If there is anything hanky panky or untoward going
on, I hope justice is swift. Glen Clark was hung by the media before a
judge found him completely innocent.

"The ministerial assistant is the minister," said Streifel. "The
relationship is so close, so tight, you almost live hand in hand.
They're chosen for their specific loyalty - it's the closest it gets
to the minister's lap."

He stressed the importance of Collins' role as finance minister, with
a balanced budget forecast in the spring.

"Can he deliver with this cloud hanging over him?"

Streifel, former fisheries minister in the NDP government, intends to
seek the party's nomination in the new riding of Maple
Ridge-Mission.

The next provincial election will be held in May 2005.

Since Collins occupies number two place in the cabinet as finance
minister, potential effects on the upcoming provincial budget deadline
"cannot be minimized," said John Redekop, Trinity Western University
political science professor.

"If and when criminal charges are laid, the ministers should step
aside from their portfolios," the former city councillor told the
Abbotsford News.

"I'm not saying the ministers are guilty, but a minister of the Crown
does have responsibility on what an appointee does. It seems
reasonable they should consider stepping aside until the matter is
cleared," he said, noting van Dongen did just that when he was under
investigation.