Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines, makes an announcement regarding incentives for Clean Energy Vehicles ahead of the Vancouver International Auto Show, in Vancouver, B.C., on March 23, 2015.Jimmy Jeong/The Globe and Mail
B.C.'s conflict commissioner has cleared Energy Minister Bill Bennett of conflict of interest when he participated in discussions around hunting regulations while a creditor to a guide-outfitting business.
Paul Fraser issued his finding in a report released March 19.
At issue was the suggestion the Kootenay East member of the legislature injected himself into the regulation of hunting while holding a financial stake in the industry. Questions were raised over whether the MLA, since 2001, had been in a conflict because of his financial interest in a guide-outfitting business that might have been affected by wildlife allocation policy for resident and non-resident hunters announced in 2014. But Mr. Fraser concludes the minister was not in direct or apparent conflict of interest so did not breach the members' Conflict of Interest Act.
Although Mr. Bennett was involved in caucus meetings that touched on the issue in December, 2014, and January, 2015, Mr. Fraser writes, "I have found no evidence that in those discussions he promoted the interests of guide outfitters or advocated for a shift in the allocation policy to favour guide outfitters.
"Indeed, I found that his principal concern continued to be advocacy for the positions advocated by resident hunters. Such advocacy was obviously contrary to any private financial or other interests he might be alleged to have had with respect to benefiting guide outfitters."
As a result of the concerns, Mr. Bennett asked Mr. Fraser for a written review of the matter and was interviewed, under oath, by Mr. Fraser, as was Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
Mr. Bennett and some friends invested, in 1995, in a company that held the rights to a guide-outfitting territory in the Kootenays intending to have a guide-outfitting operation carried out by a licensed professional, Mr. Fraser writes.
Before he first ran for the B.C. Liberals, Mr. Bennett returned his shares to the company so he could advocate for wildlife issues "in an unencumbered way," Mr. Fraser writes.
Mr. Bennett was not paid any money for his shares, and his original shareholder loan and subsequent cash contributions to the company, worth about $70,000, were converted into an unsecured loan. Mr. Bennett reported this arrangement in annual disclosure statements between 2002 and 2014 as required.
"Minister Bennett did not receive any income from the company; neither did he demand any interest or payment of any kind on his unsecured loan. He took no steps to secure his financial interest and (as he has said publicly) had no idea whether (he) would ever be repaid," wrote Mr. Fraser.
Mr. Fraser found that beyond this point, Mr. Bennett had no role in the company nor was he asked by the company or its shareholders for information, advice or assistance with the government.
Mr. Fraser writes that in March, 2014, the company's president told the minister there had been an offer to buy the company that would eventually lead to a loss of nearly 60 per cent of shareholder investment.
"The Minister played no part in the decision to sell or in the sale negotiations," Mr. Fraser writes.
Mr. Bennett is expected to receive about $30,000 in proceeds from the sale, completed on July 1, 2014.
Through a spokesman, Mr. Bennett declined further comment on the matter and said Mr. Fraser's report speaks for itself.
Ian Bailey