The Conservative government plans to review appointments made by the previous Liberal government, including several controversial ones to the board of directors for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Winter Olympics (VANOC).

The Liberals had appointed France Chretien Demarais, the daughter of then-prime minister Jean Chretien, to the board in 2003.



Chuck Strahl, B.C.'s senior minister,
told CBC Radio the public wants
appointments based on merit. (CP)
The Chretien government also appointed two other prominent Liberal supporters to the VANOC board at that time.

All three were appointed to three-year terms that expire this November, and may be replaced.

The senior B.C. minister in the new Conservative cabinet says the Olympic appointments will come under scrutiny, as part of the Harper government's new accountability act.

Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl told CBC Radio on Wednesday that he thinks the public wants merit to matter more than political connections.

"We're not targeting anyone. We're not picking people by their political pedigree, by whether they're Liberals or Conservatives. It should be, 'Are you the best man or woman for the job?'

"I just think people are thirsting for that. I think they're eager to say, 'Look at that. They put the best person in the job, no political connections or varied political connections.' I think people are ready for this."