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Minister denies influencing land deal
VICTORIA/CKNW (AM980)
Sean Leslie | Email news tips to Sean
2/26/2013

Jobs Minister Pat Bell is denying any wrongdoing in a land deal in his hometown of Prince George.


At issue is a piece of property that will house a new 25 million dollar wood innovation centre.


Media reports indicate two local businessmen filed a complaint alleging Bell tried to improperly influence the bidding process after promising they would be on the short list for the final contract.

Bell denies the claim. 

"There was never any promises made by me or anyone else in our government in fact there was a process followed, it's an arms-length process that's being managed by a project board. There was a complaint made to an individual who's been assigned with monitoring this process. She's reported out and suggested that the process should be completed and the tender awarded."

Bell says he doesn't remember meeting the complainants; Premier Christy Clark is downplaying the issue.


But the BC Conservative Party is calling for a broader investigation and says Bell should be suspended from cabinet.

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  1. whiterockj posted on 02/26/2013 02:59 PM
    "There was a complaint made to an individual who's been assigned with monitoring this process. She's reported out and suggested that the process should be completed and the tender awarded."

    Mr. Bell, the problem is not that you did not rig this bidding promise....the problem is that you have LONG TIME financial supporters of the liberal party of BC saying you offered to do so.

    so if we the people are to beleive you, long term financial supporters of the party are now making things up to damage the party???

    LOL, at least make your lies sound like they might be true Mr. Bell.
    1. whiterockj posted on 02/26/2013 03:05 PM
      @whiterockj "Elections BC records show that Fehr or his company have donated $123,000 to the B.C. Liberals since 2006.

      The records also show McLaren has donated more than $2,100 to the BC Liberals over the past eight years and in 2001, he vied against Bell for the Liberal nomination in his Prince George riding."

      Fehr and McLAren are the people making the accusations against Bell.
    2. insite posted on 02/26/2013 03:39 PM
      @whiterockj One might note that persons of opposite political persuasions are usually the ones who will make unsubstantiated complaints.

      So, it seems highly unusual that friends (donors) filed the complaint in this controversy.

      Today's Question Period shed very little new light and did not provide answers to issues that the person assigned to monitor the process could not comment on. That is quite understandable as there is Conflict of Interest Commissioner.
  2. taxed to death posted on 02/26/2013 03:03 PM
    Laughable isnt it...a scandal a day helps keep the Liberals away.....It just never ends with these morons
  3. GaryL_15 posted on 02/26/2013 03:28 PM
    "Bell says he doesn't remember meeting the complainants"

    Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha....................

    And another herd of pigs flew over.
  4. JD_9814 posted on 02/26/2013 04:00 PM
    Here is something of interest posted during the Basi Virk pre trial hearings. The citation follows below. It's of interest because it reminds me of some of the details which we have forgotten since 2009, and which add flavour to the Basi Virk payment of $6,000,000.

    It appears that the Provincial Government created many of the pre trial costs leading up to the trial.

    On October 16, 2009, BC Mary points writes :

    “I am over or under whelmed ….. just how many people have lawyers attending the Basi-Virk pre-trial hearings to look out for their interests. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember attornies representing, Ken Dobell, Patrick Kinsella, Gord the Lord Campbell hisself, his cabinet, Gary "the Ferret" Collins, BC Rail, CN (not Canadian National - but CN - a Railway based in Texas), plus of course each of the defendants facing (trumped up?) charges and probably more that I've forgotten or can't recall at the moment.

    It seems like the only folks not represented in the courtroom are the actual victims ….. - the citizens of British Columbia whose railroad is now run (into the ground) from Texas!

    …..ask yourselves why all the power players from Campbell's first term government and later find it necessary to have their own lawyer's watching over the proceedings (trial). BTW, who is paying for Christy's lawyer's, and Gary's, and the others, the taxpayers????? This whole affair is Bull Crap so rotten and toxic, I wouldn't even put it on my garden!


    http://bctrialofbasi-virk.blogspot.ca/2009/10/aha-so-there-was-basi-virk-pre-trial.html
  5. bctaxpayer posted on 02/26/2013 06:43 PM
    These BC lie berals sure now how to get into trouble,no wonder they are going down the tube.I believe the story needs further investigating.I do not believe this guy Bell.
  6. RegA [deleted] posted on 02/27/2013 08:07 AM
    Just another stink in the cesspool we call our government??? These Liberals really have a knack of finding trouble, say wot? Bell knew this odour was hovering over his head, and decided not to run for more reasons than health, me thinks! He's likely fleeced us enough by now, so will go off over the horizon, happy as a clam.
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