NDP finance critic Bruce Ralston is questioning why the 91原创 Carbon Trust paid a strategic advisory firm with Liberal government ties to provide advice on how to react to a negative report on the province鈥檚 carbon trading system.
The Wazuku Advisory Group was paid $10,950 for 鈥渃ommunications advice and planning,鈥� according to information provided to The 91原创 Sun by the Crown corporation 91原创 Carbon Trust (PCT).
It was among three companies paid to prepare strategic advice on the release of auditor general John Doyle鈥檚 report, which stated that B.C.鈥檚 carbon trading was flawed.
One of Wazuku鈥檚 three owners, Brad Zubyk, was a campaign strategist for Premier Christy Clark鈥檚 2011 byelection campaign.
Wazuku has also been linked to an organization, Concerned Citizens for B.C., headed by former Clark special-adviser Jim Shepard to prepare election ads attacking NDP leader Adrian Dix.
In a March 28 letter to the PCT, Ralston said he was concerned the publicly funded Crown corporation hired an organization that is known to 鈥渟pecialize in behind the scenes campaigns to discredit individuals.鈥�
Ralston linked Wazuku to the Shepard-led group, which put out a call last November for help with a $1-million ad campaign via a Wazuku email.
However, Wazuku has distanced itself from this campaign, saying they are only renting office space to Shepard, providing some office services and occasional advice.
The PCT has the right to disagree with the findings of the auditor general, Ralston noted in his letter.
However, Ralston wrote, 鈥渋t is an inappropriate way to use public funds to hire an organization if the intent was to discredit the work of the auditor general, his staff and the work done in his office.鈥�
The PCT has said earlier they were not part of any campaign to discredit the auditor general鈥檚 office.
The PCT added Monday the advice Wazuku was paid for on the auditor鈥檚 report is a small part of a larger contract totalling $125,555 to date, including such items as advice on potential carbon market policy options. Wazuku is still providing services to the PCT.
鈥淢ost of Wazuku鈥檚 work for PCT has not involved communications,鈥� PCT spokeswoman Hope Hickli said in an email Monday.
The PCT said Wazuku was awarded the contract for strategic planning and consulting services in a competitive bid with three other companies.
Wazuku won the bid even though one of its owners, Michael Watson, sits on the board of directors of the PCT.
The PCT said that Watson disclosed his business interest in Wazuku to the board. The board concluded Watson was not in conflict of interest as management, not the board, had made the decision to award Wazuku the contract, Hickli said in the email.
Watson also has nothing to do with the work carried out by Wazuku on the contract, said Hickli.
Zubyk also stressed the services provided on the release of the auditor general鈥檚 report was 鈥渕inor,鈥� noting he phoned perhaps three reporters to provide the PCT鈥檚 view on the report.
The PCT and the B.C. Liberal government immediately rejected the audit鈥檚 conclusions last week, saying the report was not valid because the auditor general鈥檚 office is not an accredited expert in carbon offsets.
In total, the PCT spent nearly $35,000 on firms that provided strategic and communication support to help the Crown corporation prepare information for the auditor general鈥檚 report, according to the PCT.
Acumen Communications Group was paid $23,100 for strategic advice and issues management, as well as logistical support.
The Laura Ballance Media Group was paid $1,000 for strategic communications and key message consultation.
Among the questions that Ralston wants answered is what were the terms of reference, expectations and services provided.
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