News Release - August 18, 2008

VICTORIA - Gordon Campbell has had over a month to read through a scathing report from the Auditor General into the government's giveaway of forest lands around Jordan River and it's time for him to stop trying to duck the issue, Opposition MLA John Horgan said today.

"The premier has found the time to fly around the world in a private jet, and to give massive pay increases to his top executives, but he still hasn't uttered one peep about the Auditor General's scathing report into his government's betrayal of public interest with respect to lands around Jordan River," said John Horgan, MLA for Malahat-Juan de Fuca.

The highly critical Auditor General's report released on July 16 found that the decision to allow forest lands on the west coast of Vancouver Island to be sold off for real estate development was not in the public interest and was done without proper consultation or compensation.

"When will Gordon Campbell start focusing on issues that matter to people on Vancouver Island? The premier has had plenty of time to think through his government's betrayal of my community, but Gordon Campbell hasn't even had the decency to apologize to the people on the west coast of Vancouver Island," said Horgan.

Minister of Forests Pat Bell's reaction to the Auditor General's report was unprecedented in its attack on an independent officer of the legislature.

"One would think that Gordon Campbell would have something to say when an independent officer highlights such gross incompetence by a minister of his government. If the Campbell government actually cared about the people on southern Vancouver Island, they would at the very least suspend the decision to release these TFL lands until the public interest is protected," said Horgan.

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