The resignation of Solicitor-General John Les raises a number of questions. In matters like this one must remember that a minister isn’t compelled to resign because he has done something wrong and it’s not a matter of the Presumption of Innocence. The question arises when the Minister is under a cloud of suspicion. That doesn’t arise every time an opposition member accuses a minister of doing something bad – if that was the criterion there wouldn’t be a minister left after a week.

The standards are lower now – and probably that’s a good thing – than they were in 1947 when Hugh Dalton, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, the night before bringing in the budget, told a reporter that there would be a couple of pence added to a glass of beer and a minor tax increase on dog racing. No one suggested that the pubs would overflow with patrons trying to beat the petty tax increase or dog racing fans seeing the light and swear off gambling. Dalton had to resign and the hardest opinion against him was his own leader, Prime Minister Attlee who, instead of sticking up for him called him an idiot.

We’ve had several resignations in BC. In recent times we had, most belatedly, the resignation of then Premier Glen Clark who had work done on his property by a man seeking a gambling license. Before that there was the lamentable resignation of then Health Minister Peter Dueck who stepped down when travel expenses in the minister’s office were questioned. Mr. Dueck was thoroughly vindicated after the RCMP took an unconscionable time with the investigation. Back in my time there was Jack Davis who bought, through his office, first class air tickets then downgraded them and pocketed the difference. He was subsequently found guilty. There have been others for conflicts of interest where a minister owned shares in companies that were subject to the ministry’s jurisdiction.

I have no idea whether or not John Les has done anything wrong. What I do find extraordinary that he denies any knowledge of an investigation involving him and his brothers. This matter arises in Chilliwack and involves very well known people in the community. Falling back on my knowledge of a similarly sized city I can say without fear of contradiction that when there is a police investigation involving the upper crust everyone knows of it. Everyone.

What is even more astonishing is that Crown Counsel didn’t advise the Attorney-General of this investigation. In fact it may get down to this – if Crown Counsel didn’t advise the Premier that one of his ministers, the one responsible for law enforcement, was under investigation, he should be fired.

If he did advise the Premier and the Premier did nothing, he should be fired.