Police investigation of candidate a private issue: B.C. NDP Leader

Last Updated: Thursday, April 30, 2009 | 3:02 PM PT

CBC News

Carole James was campaigning on Vancouver Island on Wednesday. (CBC)

B.C. NDP Leader Carole James says she did nothing wrong by failing to reveal that a Vancouver Island candidate was investigated by the police last year.

On Wednesday the B.C. Liberals pounced on James for failing to reveal NDP candidate for Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley was investigated by the RCMP and a special prosecutor over allegations made during divorce proceedings that included a child.

No charges were laid and the matter did not go to court.

But the B.C. Liberals questioned why it took so long for James to make the police investigation public, after she was quick to criticize Liberal Leader Gordon Campbell when a cabinet member's speeding tickets landed the party in hot water just last week.

Double standard at play, say B.C. Liberals

"There does seem to be a real double standard at play, because in the past when others have been the subject of allegations or investigations, Ms. James has been the first person to stand up and demand that the public needed to know immediately," B.C. Liberal candidate Mike de Jong was quoted as saying in The Province newspaper on Thursday.

On Friday, Solicitor General Jon Van Dongen revealed he had lost his driver's licence for several excessive speeding charges. On Monday he resigned from cabinet, but not from the election race, but James continued to question Campbell's judgment for not demanding van Dongen resign sooner.

James dismissed the accusation of a double standard as she prepared to board a plane in Victoria late Wednesday night after a whistle-stop tour of Vancouver Island this week in lead-up to the May 12 provincial election.

"Doug was advised by a special prosecutor, by his lawyer, that he shouldn't inform people about the special prosecutor to protect the privacy of that young child," said James.

"I think the public expects that when it's a personal issue, not related to their duties … that common sense prevails," she said.

Situations not the same: James

James said she knew about the police investigation for some time, but did regret that she only found out about the special prosecutor late last week. She said Routley should have informed her sooner, but his situation was significantly different from van Dongen's.

"In this case, it was a personal case.… There is a clear distinction and the Liberals know that … so a little bit of politics being played by the other side," said James.

"In the case of John van Dongen, obviously he admitted himself he broke the law and he was the top cop," she said. "He broke the law and he had to step back … and he did that," she said.

It is normal for a special prosecutor to be appointed for police investigations of public or elected officials in B.C. to ensure there is no political interference.