Former B.C. labour minister Graham Bruce will not face a conflict of interest investigation following accusations that he lobbied for a First Nation on Vancouver Island less than two years after leaving cabinet, CBC News has learned.

The NDP alleges that Graham Bruce, a former labour minister, improperly accepted treaty money for his lobbying work on behalf of a Vancouver Island First Nation.
(CBC)

In October, the New Democrats laid a formal complaint against Bruce with conflict of interest commissioner H.A.D. Oliver, alleging that Bruce accepted treaty money for his lobbying work on behalf of the Cowichan Tribes.

"Graham Bruce himself is outside my jurisdiction," Oliver told CBC News Friday. "The commissioner, who is of course a creature of statute, has no jurisdiction about former MLAs."

Bruce was defeated in the 2005 provincial election. Since then he has been doing consulting work for the Cowichan Tribes.

Armed with minutes of meetings held by the Cowichan Tribes treaty committee, the NDP in October alleged that Bruce met with Premier Gordon Campbell and other ministers in 2006.
 
The aim, according to the opposition, was to secure $3 million in funding for the Cowichan Tribes for various projects, including a housing project and seed money to stage the 2008 North American Indigenous Games.

In a written statement circulated in October, Bruce rejected any suggestion his work for the Cowichan Tribes could be considered lobbying under the Lobbyist Registration Act. 

New Democrat MLA Leonard Krog, who filed the complaint against Bruce, said the commissioner's decision was based on a loophole that should be closed.

"I don't think the public expects the legislation to allow you to escape the public scrutiny just because you're a former cabinet minister," Krog said.

Meanwhile, the NDP also alleged two current Liberal ministers, Tom Christensen and Ida Chong, of breaking the conflict law by conferring a benefit on Bruce.

That's an allegation the new conflict of interest commissioner, Paul Fraser, will be asked to look into when he takes office in the New Year.

Oliver is stepping down at age 86, after 10 years of heading the commission.