Premier Christy Clark accepted the resignation Friday of one of her closest advisers as the political fallout over a leaked strategy aimed at wooing ethnic voters continued to rock the Liberal government.
Kim Haakstad, who was Clark鈥檚 deputy chief of staff and had worked with the premier for years, resigned as the controversy over the ethnic vote courting strategy tore at caucus unity.
鈥淜im reached her decision after much consideration of her roles and responsibilities,鈥� Clark said in a three-sentence statement late Friday afternoon. 鈥淐onsistent with circumstances of resignations, no severance payment applies.鈥�
At least one Liberal MLA slammed his own party publicly over the leaked memo, which appeared to condone using public money to help the Liberals spread their ethnic message in time for the May 14 election.
Dave Hayer, an Indo-Canadian who has been a Liberal MLA since 2001, condemned the plan Friday, adding his voice to a furor unleashed earlier in the week when the Opposition NDP leaked the strategy document, which was dated January 2012.
鈥淭his proposed outreach plan was insulting to the intended targeted communities and was, when I found out about it, insulting to me and to all other MLAs who believe in doing things properly, fairly and within the rules and laws of the legislature,鈥� Hayer said.
The document outlines a plan involving the premier鈥檚 office, the multiculturalism ministry, the government caucus and the sa国际传媒 Liberal party.
The 17-page paper includes eight strategy components, including advice for so-called 鈥渜uick wins鈥� in popular support gained by correcting historical wrongs.
It also includes several references to tailoring government and Liberal news to the ethnic media, ensuring there is proper translation.
Use of taxpayer resources for political purposes is forbidden.
The sa国际传媒 government has promised to get to the bottom of whether public resources were used for political purposes, but the answers weren鈥檛 coming as fast as the deputy premier suggested.
Deputy premier Rich Coleman read an apology from Clark in the legislature Thursday, saying the leaked strategy document appeared to cross the line.
Coleman said then he should know within 24聽hours what went wrong and how, but on Friday, the premier鈥檚 office issued only the terms of reference for the review. They include a pledge to conduct interviews and review all documents related to the leaked strategy paper.
Those involved in the investigation include Coleman, the deputy ministers of finance and open government and the head of the sa国际传媒 Public Service Agency.
NDP house leader John Horgan said he鈥檚 concerned the Liberal government鈥檚 planned review of its proposal to woo ethnic voters doesn鈥檛 go far enough because it doesn鈥檛 include the Liberal party or the party caucus.
