B.C. to release health-firings report; RCMP close investigation

VICTORIA – British Columbia’s Ministry of Finance says the release of a report into the controversial firings and suspensions of government health researchers is imminent.

The ministry says the release of the comptroller general’s report is now possible because the Mounties say they no longer require its information.

Premier Christy Clark said earlier this month that a 2013 email from the RCMP to the finance ministry confirmed an investigation was underway.

But the RCMP never confirmed an investigation and recent freedom-of-information documents revealed police were waiting for government information about the case, which never came.

The workers who were part of a drug-research grant program were fired in September 2012 amid allegations of inappropriate and possibly criminal conduct, but media reports later showed the RCMP never investigated the claims.

The Opposition New Democrats, the seven researchers and the sister of former worker, Roderick MacIsaac, who committed suicide, are calling for an independent public inquiry into the situation.