BC Politics with Hubert Beyer

LIBERAL REITSMA TURFED FROM CAUCUS

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VICTORIA – I’ll say one thing for Gordon Campbell: he knows when to take decisive action.

The morning after Paul Reitsma, Liberal MLA for Parksville-Qualicum, admitted that he had written a bogus letter to a newspaper, and then lied about having written it, Campbell fired Reitsma from his caucus.

"Mr. Reitsma’s conduct in relation to the phony letter he wrote in the Parksville Qualicum Beach Morning Sun has not been forthright, truthful or acceptable, Campbell said.

"Notwithstanding his written apology, I want all British Columbians to know that Mr. Reitsma’s conduct is unbecoming of an MLA and utterly at odds with the standards that I expect and demand from my caucus colleagues.

"I have instructed that he be immediately suspended from the official opposition caucus," Campbell said.

The Liberal leader’s quick action was not only warranted, it also sent a strong message to his caucus and, indeed, all British Columbians that he will not tolerate any hanky-panky.

The sleazy way in which Reitsma tried to put one over on the newspaper and its readers bears some scrutiny.

On March 15, the Morning Sun received a phone call from Reitsma who wanted to know the deadline for letters to the editor. Three hours later, a letter, under the signature of one Warren Betanko arrived at the Morning Sun.

The letter praised Reitsma’s work as an MLA and slammed the NDP’s Jan Pullinger for her hypocrisy. It even accused her of lying.

"She (Pullinger) never stood up for Island residents and spoke out against the massive B.C. Ferries fare increases. At least, our MLA stood up, loudly protested, addressed rally’s (sic) and meetings, forcing the government to back-track (after their promise not to increase taxes/fees)! Paul and his Liberals at least kept their promise, the NDP did not."

The newspaper’s editor, Cam Purdy, was immediately suspicious and compared the hand-written letter to some of Reitsma’s other hand-written letters on file. They appeared to be the same, although the bogus letter’s writer seemed to have made some effort to disguise his hand-writing.

Purdy next checked out the phone number given in the letter. It was the old number of a motel, which was owned by Reitsma. The name Warren Betanko was not in the phone book. The address was a parking lot in Parksville.

To make sure he was on the right track, Purdy enlisted the help of Don Gamble of Victoria, former head of the RCMP Document Section in Regina and a 30-year veteran of document analysis.

Gamble said there was no question at all: "he is your man."

Having written the dirty-tricks letter in the first place was stupid enough, but confronted by Purdy, Reitsma lied. No, he didn’t write the letter. No, he had never heard of Warren Betanko. And he stuck to his lie until he saw no way out.

Even his apology was lame. He had written the letter for a friend. Right. His friend didn't know how to write a letter. I see. The name Warren Betanko just popped into his head. No kidding.

This is the kind of thing that gives bad politics and even worse name. And let’s not forget that Reitsma was the guy who was caught loading up on free food whenever he travelled on B.C. Ferries.

We don’t need people like Reitsma in politics. Small wonder the public believes that all politicians are sleaze balls.

Campbell deserves full marks for suspending Reitsma from his caucus. He should never let him back in. And Reitsma should do us all a favor and resign.