News Release - January 26, 2007

VICTORIA--Malahat-Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan has filed a complaint under the Members' Conflict of Interest Act against Premier Gordon Campbell over the Premier's ownership of shares in Alcan Inc.

"The Premier claims that he did not have knowledge that he owned Alcan shares, yet there is strong evidence that he did know that he owned these shares while he was making decisions as Premier about the province's sweetheart deal with Alcan," said Horgan, the Opposition Critic for Energy, Mines and Resources.

In a letter delivered today to Conflict of Interest Commissioner, H.A.D. Oliver, Horgan raises questions about the relationship between the Premier and the Trustee for the Trust Plan that included the Alcan shares, Canaccord Capital. In his letter, asks three questions about the conduct of the Premier:

How and when was the Premier made aware of his ownership of Alcan shares through the trust controlled by Canaccord Capital?

Once in possession of that knowledge, what steps did the Premier take to ensure that there was neither a conflict of interest nor a possible perceived conflict of interest?

Is the Premier's current arrangement with Canaccord Capital, as manager of this trust, appropriately structured to ensure the Premier does not have knowledge of assets in his possession that may put him in a possible conflict of interest or perceived conflict of interest?

"There are still many unanswered questions about the Premier's ownership of Alcan shares," said Horgan. "The fact that the shares are listed on the Premier's Dec. 1 Statement of Disclosure proves that he had knowledge that he owned the shares.

"The commissioner has the discretion to interview deputy ministers, cabinet secretaries, and other officials to ensure that the Premier took steps to absent himself from any and all discussions on the Alcan file."

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