Dirk Meissner, The Associated Press
VICTORIA (CP) -- Premier Gordon Campbell left for his annual Hawaiian Christmas vacation last month knowing he would get a call about a police matter.
But Campbell said Wednesday after returning from Hawaii that he didn’t know what the call would be about.
Campbell said he was as surprised and disturbed as any British Columbian to learn police with warrants were about to search the B.C. legislature offices of two Liberal government ministerial aides on Dec. 28.
The raids were part of a 20-month investigation involving organized crime, money laundering, drugs and police corruption.
Solicitor General Rich Coleman told him in mid-December, days before he left for Hawaii, to expect a call, Campbell said.
“He (Coleman) said that there was potentially something that may come up while you’re away. I have to know how to get a hold of you,” said Campbell. “I assumed it was a police matter -- he’s the solicitor general.
“It’s the first I knew that there was something coming forward. The solicitor general said to me before I left in December that there was potentially something that might be coming up, but he wouldn’t be able to tell me until he knew for sure.”
Campbell said Coleman called him in Hawaii on Dec. 27. The raids happened the next morning.
But Campbell said he wasn’t able offer further information about the reason for the police searches at the legislature or the RCMP and Victoria police investigation that involved the two ministerial assistants, David Basi and Robert Virk.
“I don’t think I know very much more than anybody does,” he said. “I can’t tell you what’s involved in the search warrants. I can’t tell you about the searches of the offices.”
NDP leader Carole James said he showed a lack of leadership by maintaining his holiday plans despite his advance knowledge.
“I think if the premier knew that something was going to break and was going to be critical -- he knew it was a police investigation -- I believe he should have stayed in the province,” she said.
“And I believe the minute he heard the raids happening he should have returned to British Columbia.”
The offices of Basi, ministerial assistant to Finance Minister Gary Collins and Virk, ministerial assistant to Transportation Minister Judith Reid, were searched by investigators armed with warrants and dozens of boxes of documents were carted away.
Police have said the searches were in connection with an investigation connected to organized crime, money laundering and the drug trade but have given no details.
Warrants used in the searches were sealed by the court and the case put under the control of a special prosecutor -- a practice used in investigations that touch politicians or government matters.
Basi was fired immediately, but Virk has been suspended with pay.
Campbell said he made the decision to fire Basi after consulting with Martyn Brown, the government’s chief of staff.
Basi’s job, which included co-ordinating government activities with Collins, who also serves as government house leader, was the reason for Basi’s immediate dismissal, Campbell said.
“In view of the information we had, we acted appropriately,” he said. “There is a critical task that Mr. Basi has not just in terms of knowing across government what’s going on with regard to the ministries and with regard to legislation. He has to work with the Opposition as well.”
Basi accepted a severance package offered by the government, his lawyer Chris Considine said Wednesday.
It amounted to $54,000 for about 10 years of government work, he said.
Considine said he couldn’t comment further on the reasons surrounding Basi’s firing.
“I can’t say anything more than the premier or Mr. Collins,” he said, adding he will continue to act as Basi’s lawyer.
The severance package was in accordance with public service guidelines for employees who have been dismissed without just cause, he said. Ministerial assistants do not have the right to sue to get their jobs back, Considine said.
The lawyer reiterated Basi’s insistence he has done nothing wrong. Following the raids, an RCMP spokesman said neither Basi nor Virk were accused of any wrongdoing.
Even though no one has been charged and no specific wrongdoing is alleged, Campbell said he has ordered Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Attorney General Geoff Plant to make recommendations on improvements to the screening process for hiring political aides.
“I think there have been some good points raised here,” Campbell said. “I don’t know the levels of checks there should be, but it’s something we should look at.”
The absence of information about the police investigation and legislature searches has fuelled speculation about possible connections to the federal Liberal party.
Basi and Virk were high-profile organizers for Prime Minister Paul Martin during his leadership campaign.
A number of homes and businesses were also searched and other people voluntarily turned over documents. The targets all had connections to the Liberals.
Campbell said he wasn’t aware of ministerial assistants conducting lobbying work for the federal Liberals or any other federal party.
“We have been very clear with our staff,” Campbell said. “If they want to be involved in politics we hope that they’ll be involved in provincial politics.”
Bit he said the government had no control of what people did on their own time.
Martin said earlier this week he would act quickly on any evidence of criminal connections within the Liberal party but noted Wednesday police have stated they were not investigating any political parties.
“And they have also asked no questions having to do with campaign financing or anything along that line,” he said in Ottawa. “That is not part of the questions that they have been asking.”