This will be Linda Reid’s last term as an MLA.
Reid announced her retirement from politics on Thursday after 28 years of serving as a representative of Richmond residents in the B.C. Legislature.
Reid served in several ministerial roles when in government and as the Speaker of the House from 2013 to 2017.
Since being in opposition, she was the assistant deputy speaker until last February when she was replaced. Her replacement followed the release of a report by Daryl Plecas looking into questionable actions by two high-ranking staff members connected to the Speaker’s office, including an alleged theft of liquor in April 2013.
Following Plecas’ report, the RCMP launched an investigation into the affair, led by retired police officer Doug LePard.
Then-Deputy Clerk of the House, Kate Ryan-Lloyd, told LePard that she and Reid discussed the April 22, 2013 incident after Reid assumed the Speaker’s role on June 26, 2013.
Reid said she didn’t remember a conversation with Ryan-Lloyd about the liquor.
“Ms. Ryan-Lloyd said she also spoke about the incident with then-Speaker Linda Reid in the context of policy discussions regarding Legislative Assembly property,” wrote LePard in his report to the Legislature, released to the public Oct. 8.
LePard’s report details 12 witness interviews, including Reid; however, Reid was the only one who didn’t speak directly to LePard, instead choosing to communicate via her lawyer George Cadman.
LePard reported that not all of his questions to Reid were answered, including what information about the liquor incident others may have told Reid.
Reid told the Richmond News she was on the road in late July and on holidays in August. She was offered the questions in writing and responded in writing, she added.
She pointed out she was not the Speaker at the time when the incident referenced in the report took place.
Reid said in her statement on Thursday, that the “difficult decision” to not seek re-election was made in order to create “opportunities for a new generation of British Columbians to run for office.”
“My priority throughout my career as an elected member of my community has been to encourage young people, especially women, to get involved in politics,” she said in her announcement to step down.
Reid, who is currently the BC Liberal critic for seniors, said she will continue to represent Richmond South Centre and work as the seniors critic for the rest of her term.
“I know the voices of our experienced MLAs are incredibly valuable within the BC Liberals, as we build a team that can represent and deliver opportunity for all of B.C. – and I am very happy to support this team as we move forward,” she said.
Reid was first election in 1991 and is the longest-serving MLA in Victoria.
She has been re-elected seven times.
In addition to being Speaker, she served as the Minister of Advanced Education, minister responsible for early childhood development and minister responsible for child care.
- with files from Glacier Media
