Parksville-Qualicum MLA Adam Walker says that he will clear his name after being removed from the BC NDP caucus by Premier David Eby for misconduct in an unspecified human resources complaint. Photo: Adam Walker.

Defiant Walker says he will clear his name and ‘all options are on the table’ including joining another party

On Sunday, Premier David Eby announced that Parksville-Qualicum MLA Adam Walker had been removed from the NDP caucus due to “misconduct” in an unspecified human resources complaint.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday the premier told reporters that an employee had filed a complaint against Walker in July under the collective agreement that unionized NDP staff have with the party.

“There's no criminal investigation, it is not a criminal matter,” Eby said. “This is a human resources matter under a collective agreement. It's not related to the interaction Mr. Walker had with a deer. This is a concerning and serious issue.”

Eby said that caucus led a formal investigation into the complaint.

“Based on the conclusions of that investigation, I determined that Mr. Walker couldn't continue,” Eby said.

In an interview with CHLY, Walker blasted the premier for stating that the complaint was from a member of his staff.

“The fear I have is that by the premier releasing information about potentially the individual involved, it's led to news cameras showing up in my office and intimidating my staff,” he said. “It's so important that when a worker in this province has a concern that when they bring those concerns forward, that that's done in a private way, so that there's no risk for any sort of public backlash of people bringing complaints forward.”

Walker refused to confirm, or deny, that the complaint was made by someone in his office.

In a written statement on Monday afternoon, Walker said that he was looking to address the allegations in what he called an “appropriate forum” telling CHLY that he was looking at possible “arbitration” and has “legal support.”

“Right now it's about clearing my name, but also being able to just move forward in a positive way to be able to serve my community. So whatever that process looks like, I'll leave it up to the folks that specialize in that.”

According to legislature expense reports, Walker was billed $1441.04 by a Kamloops law firm on Jan. 30, 2023 for reviewing “multiple discipline and grievance and medical documents”, as well as correspondence with the BC General Employees Union and emails regarding medical leave for a person whose name was redacted.

Walker was also billed $655.20 on February 24 to review correspondences related to a union grievance, emails about possible staff layoffs as well as an investigation and implementation of a workplace impairment policy.

Walker won’t say if those expenses are related to the complaint in July that Eby referenced, but ruled out paying the money back.

“No, all the expenses related to my office to serve the community are expenses that go through a process that's approved by the Legislative Assembly and that's not on the table,” he said.

Walker said he will continue to serve as an Independent MLA for Parksville-Qualicum and will not resign and run in a byelection for a renewed mandate.

“I don't think the taxpayers want to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars just to reaffirm what's already here. The people of this community voted for me, it was my name that was on the ballot.”

Walker said that he intends to serve Parksville Qualicum until the next election scheduled for October 2024.

“It will be up to the voters at the next general election to decide whether I've done a good job or not,” he said.

Walker also told CHLY that he’s not ruling out joining another party in the legislature, but has not discussed that idea with anyone.

“All options are on the table, but the next election is a long time away,” he said. “Right now I just want to keep working for the people in this community and for the next short while that'll be as an independent and whatever best serves the people of this community is what I intend to do.”

A representative from the BC General Employees Union declined to speak on “private matters that may pertain to union members” but said that the union will continue to support members in Walker’s office.

Correction: The total amounts of the two invoices Walker charged to the legislature for legal services were previously incorrect. CHLY regrets the error.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.