Ready, willing and able
to serve the status quo

Our sad-sack solicitor general resumes
his less-than-illustrious career

Note: A few hours after this was posted, Heed resigned a second time.
A few days later a newly appointed prosecutor re-opened the investigation
that originally cleared Heed.
May 5, 2010

Kash Heed’s re-instatement as solicitor general drew well-deserved flack from media and opposition politicians. Critics are asking how could he have not known what was going on in his campaign, what kind of people he associates with, and whether he still faces expulsion — not only from his cabinet post but his legislative seat as well.

The special prosecutor appointed to investigate Heed added one of those weird footnotes that make you wonder about people close to power. Almost immediately after clearing Heed, Terry Robertson revealed that his law firm donated $1,000 to Heed’s slimeball campaign.

“I was aware of the contribution,” Robertson said, “but did not believe that it was a conflict of interest that would preclude me from acting as special prosecutor.”

Such is the quality of the investigator who exonerated our top cop. Now the opposition say the recently re-appointed Heed should re-resign.

Heed’s one of those really tiresome political phonies who try to wear people down by repeating bland, meaningless statements. Consider this example from Globe and Mail columnist Gary Mason:

“Mr. Heed sounded every bit the politician when I asked him his view on this subject [of improving police accountability]. He kept repeating: All I want is the most accountable, transparent and effective policing in Canada. But he wouldn’t say where he stood on civilian oversight.”

Last November Heed rejected a personal appeal from Linda Bush, whose son Ian was shot and killed in the Houston RCMP detachment. She wants the B.C. legislature to follow the Ontario model of police accountability.

To no avail, Ms. Bush repeated the request at a press conference last month.

Of course her appeal struck at the heart of the police status quo, which both the BC Liberals and NDP preserved last October in a unanimous vote.

We might expect Heed to show some leadership. Police accountability is, after all, the most important issue in his portfolio. It will become even more important if — as now seems likely — the RCMP come under provincial oversight when their contract is renewed in 2012.

But even if the BC Liberal Gordocracy allowed dissension, Heed wouldn’t be one to take a stand on anything. Strangely, though, the NDP lined up shoulder-to-shoulder with their BC Liberal enemies on this issue.

Probably both parties take their orders from a powerful police lobby.

So it makes little difference whether Heed showed incompetence, naiveté or outright corruption during his election campaign. He might not be the most capable, astute or reputable person you’ll ever meet. But by B.C. standards he’s perfectly appropriate for the job of solicitor general.

Blunders, disasters and scandal:
Kash Heed graces politics with police experience
If Heed wants to do the honourable thing,
he should resign his seat right now

Michael Smyth, Vancouver Province, May 6, 2010
The on-again, off-again solicitor-general
is arrogant and unrepentant despite the scandal

Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun, May 5, 2010
Heed’s reappointment is height of arrogance
An editorial in the Vancouver Province, May 5, 2010
Kash Heed: B.C.’s ex-top cop doesn’t escape untarnished
Michael Smyth, Vancouver Province, May 4, 2010
Go to Kash Heed page
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