Half of B.C.’s liquor inspectors have been reprimanded or fired following an internal investigation into the inappropriate use of government email.
B.C. had 35 employees who oversaw liquor licences at drinking establishments and of those, four have been fired and another 13 have been disciplined, said Karen Ayers, assistant deputy minister of the liquor control and licensing branch.
“The disciplinary action was taken for a significant breach of the standard of conduct relating to email usage,” Ayers told The Vancouver Sun.
Ayers would not confirm a report by Global News that some inspectors were trading soft porn and inappropriate comments by email.
She would only say the nature of the inappropriate conduct varied per individual, which is why the reprimands varied.
Of the four most egregious offenders, who were all fired, two came from Kamloops and one each came from Campbell River and Nanaimo.
The discipline for the other 13 ranged from letters in their files to suspensions without pay that spanned from five to 30 days. They hailed from across the province, but none worked in Metro Vancouver.
The inspectors were not named, but Ayers said some have worked for the branch for years, and some just for a number of months. The length of time over which the inappropriate emails were being sent also varied.
There was no evidence to substantiate referring the findings to police for a criminal investigation, she said.
The Vancouver Sun first reported in February that the liquor branch and the public service agency, the government’s human resources arm, were investigating allegations that several inspectors had acted improperly on the job.
The investigation started in late 2008 with a review of the actions of one employee and expanded from there. Ayers would not say whether the 17 inspectors were sending inappropriate emails to each other.
The disciplinary action reflects how seriously the government has taken the situation, but she argued the inspectors’ actions had no bearing on their duties at work.
“We're concerned, but I am still confident that in terms of the core work that liquor inspectors do that we have good staff and they do a good job,” Ayers said.
There is no allegation, she added, that the inappropriate use of email was happening while the inspectors were on the job because the nature of their duties require they work unusual hours.
Inspectors issue liquor licences to bars and restaurants, as well as inspect them for compliance with provincial regulations, such as not serving minors or permitting overcrowding in bars.
The B.C. Government Employees Union, which represents liquor inspectors, is reviewing the disciplines meted out. It is too soon, said union spokesman Chris Bradshaw, to comment on whether any of the cases will be appealed.
Housing Minister Rich Coleman, who is responsible for the liquor branch, did not return a phone message left with his campaign office.
The government is now hiring to fill the positions of the four fired inspectors.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/liq...207/story.html 
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