Lee denies he was kept out of caucus meetings

By Dan Hilborn
Published April 23, 2005


Burnaby North MLA Richard Lee is denying allegations that he was asked to stay away from caucus meetings during the early period of the B.C. Liberal government's mandate.

"This is very unfair," Lee said Thursday morning about comments made by his former constituency association president Shayne Gordon in the April 16 Burnaby NOW. "I just want to say it's not true. I have never been thrown out of caucus, and I have never been asked to not attend any caucus meeting."

Gordon, a longtime Burnaby resident who rose through the ranks of the Liberal riding association, made his comments in a story announcing his defection to the newly formed Democratic Reform B.C. political party.

"He (Lee) was stepped on early and told not to show up for caucus meetings until the house went into session," said the three-term former Liberal riding association executive member.

The Burnaby NOW attempted to verify the comments by calling B.C. Liberal party organizer Brian Bonney, who was also named in the story. Bonney, whose home voicemail box was full, has still not replied to a phone message that was left at his office.

Kevin Krueger, the Liberal party whip and MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson, also called the Burnaby NOW to back up Lee's version of events.

"I understand you reported someone as having told you Richard was expelled from caucus," Krueger said. "I want to tell you that the person who said that is a liar.

"I want to be on the record that that never happened," Krueger said.

"Richard Lee is a trusted, respected, credible member of our caucus who has always been good at standing up for his constituents and representing their interests and concerns and who has not worried if it has ever affected his popularity in caucus."

Krueger said that if Gordon was to take the dispute further, he could commence legal action.

Lee also denied the allegations in a letter sent to the NOW on April 18. "I have never been banned from any meeting of the B.C. Liberal caucus and was never told not to show up for caucus meeting until the house went into session. The statements quoted in your story alleging the contrary are absolutely false and totally incorrect."