REVscene Automotive Forum - Kash Heed, Cash Greed? Solicitor-General Steps Down

Kash Heed becomes third B.C. solicitor-general to step down in last 25 months

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VICTORIA -- Kash Heed announced Friday he is under investigation by the RCMP and will be stepping down as the province's solicitor-general.

In doing so, Heed became the third consecutive solicitor-general to step down in the last 25 months.

"I have concluded, out of the respect and regard for the office of solicitor-general of British Columbia and to ensure the continued integrity of that office, that the appropriate action is to step aside pending the outcome of this investigation," Heed said in a statement released Friday afternoon.

"I have spoken with the Premier and he has accepted my decision."

Heed said the investigation has to do with alleged improprieties during the 2009 election campaign.

"On March 24 I was informed by the RCMP that they were investigating alleged Elections Act violations pertaining to a 2009 Vancouver-Fraserview provincial election campaign," Heed said in his statement.

Heed said he was initially informed he would only be interviewed as a witness, and only recently learned he was also a target of the probe.

"On late Tuesday evening, April 6, while I was out of the country, I was informed that the investigation was evolving and the RCMP would want to interview me to determine if I had any role in the allegations," Heed said in the statement, adding that on Wednesday he informed Premier Gordon Campbell.

Heed said a special prosecutor has been appointed in the case, though insisted he has done nothing wrong.

"I am confident that I have done nothing wrong'" he said, adding he will cooperate fully with the investigation.

"It is my sincere hope that this matter is concluded as quickly as possible," he added.

Veteran lawyer Terry Robertson has been appointed by B.C.'s Criminal Justice Branch to be the independent Special Prosecutor "in connection with a police investigation into possible offences involving the campaign office of Solicitor General Kash Heed," the government announced Friday afternoon.

Robertson, a senior Vancouver lawyer, was appointed on January 12, 2010 by Assistant Deputy Attorney General Robert W.G. Gillen. Q.C. after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police requested the appointment of a special prosecutor.

After reading from a written statement, Heed told a press conference Friday afternoon that the RCMP investigation is not targeting him directly. "I am absolutely confident that I have done nothing wrong, and it is for that reason that I am going to fully cooperate with the RCMP and it is for that reason that I am going to step aside."

He said he hopes to be the solicitor-general again once this investigation concludes.

Heed reiterated that he has no idea what exactly the police are investigating. However, when asked, he said he played no role in monitoring campaign finances as he spent his time campaigning during the 2009 election.

"We had people to do that... I was out door knocking, and others had roles to play," Heed said. "And they had obligations to fulfill those roles."

Premier Gordon Campbell announced Friday that Attorney-General Michael de Jong would also serve as acting minister of public safety and solicitor-general in the wake of Heed's resignation.

John Les resigned as solicitor-general on March 28, 2008, shortly after news broke that a special prosecutor was investigating his actions while he had been the mayor of Chilliwack.

Les, who has not returned to cabinet and won re-election last May, said at the time he expected to be cleared of wrongdoing.

The special prosecutor has still not issued a final report in the case.

In April 2008, Les's successor John van Dongen had to step aside. The move was linked to the fact van Dongen had nine traffic tickets and a four-month driving suspension.

Heed said Friday he is confident the changes he had set out to make to policing in B.C. will continue during his absence from the solicitor general's ministry.

Heed raised his voice emphatically when asked about being the third consecutive Liberal solicitor-general to step down in the last 25 months

"The former solicitor generals of the province of BC have served this province very well," a passionate Heed said. "I've served this province very, very well. So I think there is a lot to be proud of. In order to maintain the integrity of the office I did the right thing in stepping aside here."

Heed was asked about the curious timing of his resignation -- on a Friday afternoon, at the same time the government also announced a special prosecutor to handle impaired driving charges against his colleague, Liberal MLA Jane Thornthwaite.

"It was my timing and it was my decision to step aside," he replied.

Heed is a well-regarded member of the Indo-Canadian community, and denied a suggestion that his resignation would be a black-eye for that community. "The community knows about my integrity and the community know about my service, and I hope I can continue to be a role model for those in the community," he said. "The community has a lot to be proud of."

Below is Heed's full statement:

Solicitor General issued the following statement today:

VICTORIA - "On March 24 I was informed by the RCMP that they were investigating alleged Elections Act violations pertaining to a 2009 Vancouver-Fraserview provincial election campaign. At that time I was informed that I was not a subject of that investigation and that I may be interviewed as a witness. I understand that the deputy to the Premier, informed the Premier of this fact on March 26.

On late Tuesday evening, April 6, while I was out of the country, I was informed that the investigation was evolving and the RCMP would want to interview me to determine if I had any role in the allegations. On Wednesday, I informed the Premier of that development.

Upon returning to Vancouver on Wednesday, out of an abundance of caution, I immediately obtained a lawyer to engage the RCMP on my behalf and to establish the facts that were appropriate for me to know and to ascertain what was expected of me to help me make the appropriate decision for my office.

On Wednesday, my lawyer called the criminal justice branch to determine if a special prosecutor had been appointed and he subsequently advised me that a special prosecutor has been appointed in this investigation.

Today I have concluded, out of the respect and regard for the office of Solicitor General of British Columbia and to ensure the continued integrity of that office, that the appropriate action is to step aside pending the outcome of this investigation. I have spoken with the Premier and he has accepted my decision.

Over my 30-year career in law enforcement and public service I have prided myself on putting the public interest first and acting with the utmost integrity. It is with that in mind that I have chosen to step aside.

I am confident that I have done nothing wrong. I fully support the RCMP's efforts and will be co-operating fully with the investigation.

It is my sincere hope that this matter is concluded as quickly as possible. I will continue to represent my constituents as the MLA for Vancouver-Fraserview.

Until all aspects of this ongoing matter are complete, I will not be commenting further on the substance of the investigation as that would be inappropriate."