A local MLA is calling on British Columbia's premier to "come clean" after a controversial Downtown Eastside consultancy contract was cut short by the provincial government.
Conservative Surrey香蕉视频直播揥hite Rock MLA Trevor Halford asked NDP Premier David Eby to "come clean" in a Tuesday release, when the Conservative Party of BC said it learned Michael Bryant香蕉视频直播檚 DTES contract was abruptly cancelled.
The contract, worth up to $325,000, was awarded to Bryant 香蕉视频直播� a former Ontario cabinet minister 香蕉视频直播� without competition, without public disclosure, and without clearly defined deliverables, Halford said.
香蕉视频直播淭his wasn香蕉视频直播檛 accountability, it was damage control,香蕉视频直播� Halford said in the release. 香蕉视频直播淭he premier didn香蕉视频直播檛 end this contract because it was wrong. He ended it because it became public.香蕉视频直播�
It triggered public backlash, media scrutiny, and unanswered questions in the Legislature during Question Period. The premier香蕉视频直播檚 office now claims the 香蕉视频直播渄ebate香蕉视频直播� over the contract had become a distraction, the Conservative release continued.
香蕉视频直播淭he only distraction was the public learning what the premier tried to hide,香蕉视频直播� said Halford. 香蕉视频直播淭his was a political favour handed to a friend of the premier, quietly, behind closed doors, with no oversight.香蕉视频直播�
Halford is demanding the immediate release of the total amount already paid under Bryant香蕉视频直播檚 contract, as well as any severance, penalties, or cancellation fees triggered; all communications and approval documents tied to the contract, and a status update on any work submitted to date.
香蕉视频直播淚t is understood the premier was consulted during Bryant香蕉视频直播檚 appointment to Legal Aid BC, which he left abruptly in 2024 for reasons still not disclosed to the public,香蕉视频直播� said Halford. 香蕉视频直播淭hen the premier directed a new ministry to hire him again, this time, with no public transparency or accountability.香蕉视频直播�
As well as vague public terms of reference for Bryant's contract, local DTES advocates also questioned what an outsider to the area could disclose about the notorious neighbourhood compared to those who know it well. The provincial government did not publicly announce Bryant's appointment, which began in February, and only confirmed it in response to recent media reports.
香蕉视频直播淭he contract may be gone, but the questions aren香蕉视频直播檛,香蕉视频直播� said Halford. 香蕉视频直播淏ritish Columbians are paying the price for this government香蕉视频直播檚 backroom politics. This isn香蕉视频直播檛 just about one contract, it香蕉视频直播檚 about trust. And right now, this Premier has none.香蕉视频直播�
