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Shots fired between Port Coquitlam mayor and former B.C. premier

B.C. Premier Christy Clark said Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West is a “very, very political guy, a very partisan guy,” when asked about comments he made about her government's handling of the money-laundering file
Gary Mckenna
Former B.C. Premier Christy Clark took a shot at Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West this week, saying he was "very, very political guy, a very partisan guy."

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West is in a dust-up with former B.C. Premier Christy Clark over comments he made about her handling of the money-laundering file while the BC Liberals were in power.

West had told This is VANCOLOUR podcast host Mo Amir that the previous provincial government turned a blind eye to money laundering and accused Clark of “dereliction of duty.” 

Clark responded this week, saying she worked with B.C.’s police forces and the federal government to deal with the issue.

“It is not true,” she said of West’s comments. “It is not backed up by any of the facts.”

Clark also took a shot at West for being a “very, very political guy, a very partisan guy,” adding “I’m not really partisan anymore, so I take it for what it is… I think you are going to expect that from a very, very ambitious young political operative like Brad.”

West took to Twitter Tuesday night to weigh-in on the subject.

In a thread, the 35-year-old mayor, who has been an outspoken critic of the BC Liberals on the money-laundering issue, accused the former premier of being in denial about her handling of the file.

Instead of working with police, West said Clark’s government disbanded the Integrated Gambling Enforcement Team after it recommended targeting money laundering and fired a senior investigations director of Gaming Policy and Enforcement branch who had concerns about the issue. 

West also took exception to her comment about him being overly partisan.

“I have & do work with ppl of different views and enjoy it,” he Tweeted. “My critique of the former Premier’s handling of money laundering isn’t about politics, it’s about competence and the disastrous results for our province from the lack of it.”