VICTORIA, B.C.: Conservative Interim Leader Trevor Halford says Premier David Eby has moved to eliminate the only independent watchdog preventing partisan hiring, clearing the path to reward political friends and insiders without oversight.
Buried in the NDP’s budget legislation is a provision to eliminate the independent Office of the Merit Commissioner, the office created to ensure public service jobs are awarded on merit, not political loyalty.
“This office exists for one reason: to stop governments from stacking the public service with political friends and insiders,” said Halford. “And now David Eby wants it gone.”
The change was not mentioned in the budget speech. It was not highlighted in the lockup. It was not defended publicly.
“They hid it,” Halford said. “Because they know exactly what it looks like.”
The timing raises serious concerns. The NDP is preparing to cut 15,000 public service jobs while quietly promoting and increasing salaries for political staff.
“Just days before handing British Columbians a $1.1-billion income tax hike, this government boosted salaries and handed out promotions to party insiders,” Halford said. “Now they’re dismantling the independent watchdog that ensures hiring isn’t partisan.”
“You don’t eliminate the referee unless you plan to change the rules.”
Halford said the move strips away independent oversight and consolidates power directly under Cabinet, giving the Premier unprecedented control over who stays, who goes, and who gets promoted.
“This Premier already loves rewarding political friends and insiders,” Halford said. “Now he’s removing the one office that could stop him.”
“Government jobs are not political prizes. British Columbians deserve a public service built on merit, not loyalty to the NDP.”
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Media Contact:
Francesca Guetchev, Press Secretary
Francesca.Guetchev@leg.bc.ca
+1 (672) 922-0948
