Les To Be Interviewed: Special Prosecutor

The special prosecutor appointed to look into land dealings in Chilliwack confirmed investigators have not yet interviewed former mayor and current Chilliwack-Sumas MLA John Les, but said they will.

"I fully expect that he will be interviewed," said Robin McFee, the special prosecutor and a partner in the Vancouver law firm Sugden, McFee and Roos.

Les is one of several people under investigation who have not yet been interviewed, he said.

With the investigation continuing, McFee declined to say whether Les, who was Chilliwack mayor from 1987 to 1999, is at the centre of the matter or just peripheral to it.

The March 28 statement from the criminal justice branch said the RCMP investigation is "into allegations of potential improper conduct on the part of former officials with the City of Chilliwack." One aspect included looking at whether Les "improperly benefited from any commercial transactions involving land developers when he held the position of Mayor of Chilliwack."

Nor could McFee say when the investigation will be complete. "You make inquiries and it opens up other doors."

'Wide ranging' investigation

Asked whether the investigation goes beyond what has been speculated in the media, he said, "The investigation is thorough, comprehensive and wide ranging."

On March 28 Les stepped down from his cabinet position as the Minister for Public Safety and Solicitor General after the criminal justice branch revealed following a media inquiry that Les has been under investigation since June 28, 2007.

Les's cabinet duties included responsibility for policing in the province. John van Dongen is replacing him until the investigation is complete.

Media reports have focussed on land deals at Bell Road and Rosebank Place. In both cases Les succeeded in having properties that were zoned for agriculture rezoned by the city to allow for homes to be built. Similar applications by previous owners had been rejected.

Agriculture commission jumps in

In at least one of those cases, the rezoning happened without the permission of the Agricultural Land Commission, which is charged with protecting farm land in the province. The ALC's Colin Fry told reporters on April 3 the agency will open its own investigation into the developments.

Penalties for violating the Agricultural Land Commission Act include $100,000 per occurrence.

Les was unavailable for an interview. On March 28 he said in a statement that he would be unavailable for further comment. Then he answered questions in scrums at the legislature from reporters on March 31, April 1 and April 2.

He said repeatedly that he did not know what the investigation is about, that the process is "frustrating" and that he expects he will be cleared. As of April 2 he said he had not yet contacted a lawyer.

On April 3 Les was not in the legislature. Caucus communication staff said he had gone home sick.

Related Tyee stories:

• Les's Land Dealings
  Former Chilliwack mayor sold strata lots after becoming MLA.
• Farmland's Fate in Local Hands
  Those who rule on removing farmland unduly susceptible to community pressure.
• How to Safeguard BC's Farmland
  Fixing the Agricultural Land Reserve will take vision and spine.