Ian Paton, a British Columbia legislator, has revealed that the RCMP will be interviewing him on Wednesday regarding an alleged job offer aimed at vacating his seat for Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay. Paton, who recently departed from the Conservative caucus along with other MLAs, disclosed that Findlay’s chief of staff, Chris Delaney, had proposed in July for him to step down in Delta South in exchange for a two-year advisory position with a salary equivalent to that of an MLA.
While Paton declined the offer, he initially viewed such practices as common until realizing the legal implications of offering remuneration to induce a legislator to resign. He anticipates police questioning him on Wednesday, noting that other Conservatives have also been in contact with the RCMP recently.
Findlay, who won the party’s leadership earlier this year but lacks a seat, is set to contest in a forthcoming byelection in Abbotsford-Mission, previously held by Reann Gasper, now serving as Findlay’s deputy chief of staff. Denying allegations of job offers in exchange for resignations, Findlay dismissed claims from an online recording suggesting otherwise as “preposterous.”
The Criminal Code prohibits negotiating rewards or benefits tied to political office resignations, with the RCMP acknowledging awareness of the recording involving Findlay and Conservative legislators but refraining from confirming any ongoing investigations.
The Conservative party has experienced a series of defections this month, with seven MLAs leaving following Findlay’s narrow leadership win. Reasons cited by departing members include ideological differences and concerns over Findlay’s advisors’ expectations for MLAs to align with a particular right-wing stance.
