British Columbia Premier Christy Clark has replaced her chief of staff Ken Boessenkool following investigation of "an incident of concern" that happened two weeks ago.
"Earlier this month I was involved in an incident where I acted inappropriately," Boessenkool wrote in a resignation letter released by the premier's office. "I was wrong, regretted my behaviour very much and immediately and unconditionally apologized."
Despite apologizing he would resign, Boessenkool wrote. "This will give me a chance to return to Calgary to be with my family -- who I have also let down - and from whom I have been separated on a weekly basis for most of the last eight months."
The letter did not provide details of the incident, and Clark said she could not release them due to privacy laws governing employers and employees, though she did say there's no suggestion of any criminal conduct.
"He and I agreed that he should resign," she said. "When I sat down with Ken, I knew that he would have to resign, and he agreed that was the right course to take."
Clark stressed that the investigation had been quick, thorough and fair and that she had acted decisively when it was done.
Boessenkool came to B.C. less than a year ago to shore up Clark's right wing credentials. He was a former adviser to Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, an election strategist for the federal party and a lobbyist for clients including Enbridge, Taser International and several drug companies.
Clark announced her new chief of staff will be Dan Doyle, a former chair of BC Hydro, vice president of construction for the organizing committee for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and a director with Partnerships BC. In 2010 he received the Order of B.C..
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Find him on Twitter or reach him here.
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Mikemah
34 weeks ago
Clark
Everything Christy does is against the wishes of the VAST majority of British Columbians. Her actions are completely biased in favor of a few greedy rich supporters and are inappropriate by anyones definition .Why doesn't she remove herself ?
dave49
34 weeks ago
Bye-Bye
Given what I read of his bio when he arrived in BC, all I can say is bye-bye and no love lost. The fact that Christy Clark thought he was the right person to sell her Fiberal gov't as a family-focused, middle-ground party says something about her judgment and perception.
Bye-bye Ken, just don't come back to haunt us as part of the rapacious Northern Gateway project.
lynn
34 weeks ago
Incidentally
Love the deflecting, down-sizing choice of word by CC:
"incident".
Why no photogs staked out outside of Boessenkool's pad for days on end?
Oh, I see......
Skywalker
34 weeks ago
What is his severance package?
The fact that there is no mention of it is troubling.
nutsnbolts
34 weeks ago
Most organized crime
whacks their bad boys....and what's this going to cost us, $$$$multi millions more$$$$$ AGAIN for these two criminals.
John MacLachlan Gray
34 weeks ago
Consultant, Heal Thyself
Boessencool is the expert who knows exactly what to do when this sort of "incident" happens - as long as it's somebody else; but when the spotlight is on him, he plays it in the absolute worst way possible, allowing the messy details to grind away in the rumour mill until, inevitably, the whole pathetic fumble comes out anyway, making him into a clown. For all his expertise in his chosen field, he has learned nothing. It's a tragedy analogous to the Ferryman in Buddhist mythology - destined to transport people to Enlightenment, but never to get there himself. The man needs to "spend time with his family," and re-think his entire life.
RockyRacoon
34 weeks ago
Since she isn't having Parliament sit why don't the people and
the opposition go and take over Parliament it i snot like their aren't a zillion things to deal with.
RR
Bob Watts
34 weeks ago
Sad
To bad Clark just can not hire local.
We have all kinds of right wing nuts to hire!!!
Ricky Jackson
28 weeks ago
Oh! That is really sad, that
Oh! That is really sad, that he had to resign. What happened the chief to resign as of a sudden?I think Boessenk was a good person. Anyway lets wish success in his coming life. So we can expect the next election soon. Scam Support OmniTech