B.C. premier's chief of staff resigns after investigation
Calgary academic Ken Boessenkool previously worked as senior adviser to Stephen Harper
CBC News
Posted: Sep 24, 2012 10:25 AM PT
Last Updated: Sep 24, 2012 6:58 PM PT
B.C. Premier Christy Clark announces she has asked for and received the resignation of her chief of staff, Ken Boessenkool, following an undisclosed incident.
Clark said she learned of the incident about two weeks ago and made a decision to replace Boessenkool immediately after an investigation was completed.
"When I sat down with Ken, he agreed that he would have to resign," she said.
Citing privacy laws, Clark said she was unable to release any details about the incident.
Ken Boessenkool was appointed chief of staff by Premier Christy Clark in January, after working as a senior policy adviser and strategist for Prime Minister Stephen Harper. (BC Blue/Wordpress.com)"I can't comment on any of that, these are personnel matters as I'm sure you can appreciate.... It's important to respect the privacy of the individuals involved, and you know every employer is bound by those laws, not just government," said Clark.
The investigation was handled by the B.C. Public Service Agency, which is the body that oversees all government employees, and there is no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing, officials told CBC News.
What is known is that about two weeks ago Boessenkool took part in a golf tournament along with a large number of MLAs, government staffers and media.
There was a lot of alcohol consumed at the tournament and a number of government staffers were out late at a Victoria bar following the event.
The incident that was investigated and led to his resignation involved Boessenkool and a female government staff member, CBC News has learned.
But the premier would not confirm or comment in any way on where the incident happened.
Former Harper adviser
Boessenkool put his resignation in a letter, which was released by Clark's office Monday.
"Earlier this month I was involved in an incident where I acted inappropriately," Boessenkool said in the letter.
"I was wrong, regretted my behaviour very much and immediately and unconditionally apologized.
"This will give me a chance to return to Calgary to be with my family — who I have also let down," he said in his statement.
Boessenkool was appointed by Clark in January, after working as a senior policy adviser and strategist for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, according to a statement issued by Clark's office at the time.
Clark's office said Boessenkool had also led an Alberta-based consulting practice, was a senior economist in the regulatory departments of two major utilities, served as a policy adviser to two finance ministers in Alberta and as an executive fellow at the University of Calgary.
Clark appointed veteran public servant Dan Doyle, the current chair of B.C. Hydro, to serve as her new chief of staff.
Share Tools
Latest British Columbia News Headlines
- Fever medicine for infants, children under recall
- Quality concerns with a Chinese producer of acetaminophen have prompted a recall of four fever medications meant for infants and children. more »
- Pickup truck backs up over mother, 2 children in tent
- A 20-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly backing her pickup truck over a mother and two children who were sleeping in a tent at a campsite in northeastern B.C. more »
- Johnsons Landing homes must be abandoned, says report
- A new geotechnical report on the Johnsons Landing landslide has concluded as many as 18 properties could be hit by another slide and residents will likely never be able to return home. more »
- The Centre for Performing Arts will not be missed, theatre critic says
- While some see the pending sale of The Centre for Performing Arts as a loss for Vancouver's arts scene, UBC theatre professor and theatre critic Jerry Wasserman says the theatre never lived up to its lofty expectations. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford fires chief of staff
- A week after bombshell allegations that Toronto Mayor Rob ford was videotaped smoking crack, the mayor's chief of staff was fired and Ford is continuing to stonewall reporters. more »
- Federal Court won't remove MPs over robocall allegations
- The Federal Court says it won't throw six MPs out of seats over allegations of widespread vote suppression through automated robocalls in the 2011 federal election. more »
- 2nd suspect in Tim Bosma murder case to plead not guilty
- The lawyer for Mark Smich says the Oakville, Ont., resident will plead not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Tim Bosma, the Hamilton man who disappeared earlier this month after taking two men on a test drive of his truck. more »
- Canada Post campaigns against 'no flyers' mailbox signs
- Canada Post has been mailing more than 900,000 letters across the country to people to try to convince them to remove "no flyer" signs from their mailboxes. more »
- Vancouver man abandons Porsche on B.C. ferry
- B.C. teen saves pet dog in 'terrifying' cougar attack
- 750 homes sliding away in Quesnel, B.C.
- Flood watch underway in central B.C. Interior
- Plumber's car explodes near Vancouver apartments
- Christy Clark thanks Liberal MLAs in Vancouver
- Men found dead in B.C. lake wore oversized life-jackets
- New West parkade a blight on revitalized waterfront
- Johnsons Landing homes must be abandoned, says report

