If freedom of information legislation existed in B.C it would uncover more scandals surrounding the Social Credit government NDP justice critic Moe Sihota said May 16.

Addressing the Fort Langley Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Keg in the Country Sihota said this province is only one of two in Canada without this type of legislation.

I think if we had freedom of information legislation we would realize that really what we have seen in this province in the last four years is only the tip of the scandal iceberg Sihota said.

If you have nothing to hide you needn’t fear freedom of information legislation he added.

Speaking on conflict of interest issues that have dogged the Social Credit administration Sihota said laws not guidelines are needed.

He said the NDP supports strict laws that would mete out stiff punishment to any member of the legislative assembly found guilty of breaking conflict of interest laws.

If you get your hands caught in the conflict-of-interest cookie jar you lose your seat your pay and your pension Sihota said.

He added that if any MLA benefits financially from breaking conflict laws the profit must be forfeited.

He noted that the controversial sale of Fantasy Gardens netted former Premier Bill Vander Zalm $1.6 million. He bought the property for $1.6 million.

Sihota said conflict of interest violations have cost the government its leader as well as other key cabinet ministers

Concrete steps must be taken to restore integrity and trust in government he said predicting the next election would be fought around the issue of morality and ethics. He said his party would remind the electorate of the present government’s track record.

Saying the present party system is too rigid Sihota suggested there should be more free votes in the legislature.

Funding priorities would have. to change with a new government and they would include the $50 million the government spends on TV advertising and the $25 million allocated for B.C. doctor’s pension plan he said.

The government has become stale and arrogant and the time has come for a change in government. He said it’s a myth that the Socreds can run a peanut stand and we can’t

Sihota who began his speech by saying he didn’t want to talk about the shenanigans of the present government ended it by telling an anecdote about Fort Langley/ Alder grove MLA Dan Peterson.

He said each year the media covering the legislature have a party at which the Dan Peterson Award for Anonymity is presented.

This year Dan Peterson received the award Sihota said.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 7, 1991