A special prosecutor has been appointed by B.C.'s criminal justice branch to look into whether a former deputy minister and top adviser to Premier Gordon Campbell broke the law governing lobbyists.

The appointment follows a report to Crown counsel submitted by the RCMP on Oct. 18 that dealt with allegations of potential misconduct by Ken Dobell in his alleged lobbying activities.

Former deputy minister Ken Dobell's work as a consultant for the City of Vancouver will be reviewed by a special prosecutor.
(CBC)

Larry Terry Robertson, a senior Vancouver lawyer, was appointed special prosecutor on Wednesday. His mandate is to determine if more investigation is needed and to decide if any charges should be laid.

Dobell was a longtime adviser to Campbell and a deputy minister to the premier for several years.

Last April, Dobell came under fire from the NDP who alleged he was working on behalf of the city of Vancouver to lobby the provincial government for funding.

The New Democrats accused him of violating the Lobbyists Registration Act by failing to register until six months after he'd begun work for the city of Vancouver.

Dobell said he did not consider his consulting work to be lobbying, and that he only signed up with the registry out of an abundance of caution.

A report last May by the Registrar of Lobbyists concluded Dobell had violated the act, but also noted he had never tried to hide his activities.

A statement from the criminal justice branch said it appoints special prosecutors when it believes there is "a significant risk of real or perceived improper influence in the independent exercise of prosecutorial responsibilities."