Editor:Re: the Supreme Court of B.C. case involving the Cariboo Regional District and former Area F director Duncan Barnett:
I am writing to share my concerns about the conduct of the CRD and officials and how our tax dollars have been spent to defend that behaviour.
On April 8, 2009, the Honourable Justice McKinnon ordered the CRD to pay special damages, stating “a serious assault has occurred upon the character of the petitioner.”
The special damages were $25,000 and the lawyer fees and disbursements paid by the CRD to defend their actions were $52,524.22, according to information obtained through a Freedom of Information request.
And this matter is not resolved.
On May 2, the next trial is scheduled to begin and we, the taxpayers, will again be paying lawyer fees and disbursements regardless of the outcome.
If you share my concerns, I encourage you to read the April 8, 2009 Reasons for Judgement of Justice McKinnon, speak to your CRD area director requesting they ensure our tax dollars are spent in a responsible and accountable manner, and contact your MLA.
If we work together hopefully we can achieve the responsible accountability that the CRD has included in its mission and have alluded to in its recent town hall meetings.
Bobby LloydWilliams Lake