West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky Country Independent MP Blair Wilson said he looks forward to having his name cleared of election campaign misspending allegations - but it's anyone's guess how long that will take.
Four months after complaints over the 2005/06 campaign were filed with Elections Canada, the agency still hasn't begun an official investigation, according to Wilson.
"No charges have been laid. Elections Canada hasn't even launched an investigation," he said during media questions at the Squamish Public Library Friday, Feb. 1, before delivering a presentation on the Canada Summer Jobs program.
Elections Canada representatives refused to support or refute the claim.
Wilson said he offered to distance himself from the Liberal Party as a gesture of respect after allegations came to light, but is "very optimistic" his name will be cleared.
"We're hopeful that Elections Canada will come out with their response as soon as possible," Wilson said.
But the wait could span half a decade.
Elections Canada spokesperson John Enright said he cannot confirm or deny whether an investigation has been launched, but he did say the Elections Canada Commissioner has up to five years to prosecute the case after a complaint has been filed.Since the 2004 election, the commissioner has done a preliminary assessment of 3,591 complaint files. While 3,241 of these complaints have been resolved, only six have led to prosecutions. Many of the cases were deemed unsubstantiated, while 25 were settled through compliance agreements. In this case, a politician could agree to submit documents previously withheld, Enright said.
Wilson said he has been in contact with Elections Canada but could not elaborate on the matter.
He said he intends to run for the riding's seat in the next federal election, but wouldn't discuss whether he'd employ the services of former campaign leader and chief of staff Guilio Villas, who sources close to the campaign pointed to as an influence in alleged financial mismanagement.
In November, Wilson's secretary in Ottawa confirmed Villas was no longer linked to the office. However, on Friday, Wilson would not say whether he would work with Villas again, saying only, "You'll have to ask him." Although Wilson said he continues to enjoy working for the people in his riding, he said he was not happy about media attention on allegations that he and his wife owe his stepfather-in-law Bill Lougheed $1.9 million.
"It's a career you choose," said Wilson. "But an MP's private life should be an MP's private life."
