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More questions about unnamed staffer at centre of bribe allegations

Allegations that the BC Liberals plotted to bribe a disgruntled staffer dominated Question Period yesterday in the B.C. Legislature.

Multiculturalism Minister Teresa Wat was the target of pointed questions from the opposition, although the rookie MLA was appointed to her post after the quick wins scandal broke and her predecessor, John Yap, stepped down.

"Now, the minister has had the opportunity to be fully briefed," said NDP leader Adrian Dix. "Can the minister tell this House what damaging information there was to the Premier and to the Liberal party that the government officials were attempting to hide?"

Wat said the email "suggests actions that would be inappropriate, reinforcing the findings of the Dyble report. Despite the allegation brought forward by many members of the opposition yesterday and again by the Leader of the Opposition today, the review team found no evidence — no evidence whatsoever — that the suggestions highlighted were ever considered or acted upon by the government."

The email in question was from then-multiculturalism communications director Brian Bonney, and was about an unnamed employee who had information that "would damage the Premier and the [Liberal] party." It was mixed among lengthy and heavily redacted email exchanges between Bonney and Sepideh Sarrafpour, a government caucus liaison who served from October 2011 to October 2012.

Dix asked whether Dyble contacted and interviewed the target of the Bonney email, but Wat gave no direct answer.

"Clearly, this review wasn't exhaustive, thorough or comprehensive," Dix said. "I mean, the answer to the question I just asked the minister is pretty clear. They didn't bother to contact the person. It wasn't thorough. I mean, either the review was conducted by Inspector Clouseau, which clearly isn't the case given the individuals involved, who are very senior people, or they didn't ask the questions. They didn't pursue the e-mail. This happens to be the case."

Sarrafpour did not respond to an emailed interview request or a message sent via the North Vancouver Museum and Archives, where, according to her Twitter account, she works as commissioner.

Vancouver journalist Bob Mackin is a frequent contributor to The Tyee.

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