British Columbia's minister of state for mining, Randy Hawes, says he has sold his stocks in mining companies.

“Everything I had in mining stock I had to eliminate when I took this portfolio,” Hawes said in a recent interview.

The financial disclosure form Hawes signed in April, 2009, as a candidate in the election said he owned shares in Roxgold Inc., Rupert Resources Ltd. and G-4 Resources, the Tyee reported.

The shares were a “play portfolio”, he said, adding that he mostly got out of holding stocks 20 years ago when he became a municipal politician in Mission. “I sold all my stocks a long time ago,” he said. “I get that when you're in public office you've got to be careful and squeaky clean.”

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.