VICTORIA—The two top officials in British Columbia’s legislature deny allegations of overspending and questionable expenses in written responses to a report by the Speaker. The Speaker’s report released Jan. 21 alleges the two officials claimed expenses for overseas trips and personal purchases, and that they received inappropriate payouts of cash in lieu of vacation in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The officials also address allegations that thousands of dollars worth of liquor was misappropriated from the legislature. The Speaker’s report also alleged that James asked Plecas to sign a document entitling him to a life insurance policy worth three times his annual salary. The Speaker’s report alleged the clerk expensed more than $5,000 in digital and print magazines, including “Arizona Highways” and “Electric Bike Action.”Both men say they had to respond to the Speaker’s report in a short time and without access to records and their office staff.

Source: thestar February 08, 2019 22:29 UTC