Farnworth calls for investigating CLBC's contract after sex offender housed in Mission

The NDP is calling on B.C.’s auditor general to conduct an independent investigation after a potential conflict of interest case involving the Mission property housing convicted sex offender James Conway.

Conway has been living in a house on Dewdney Trunk Road — across from a school and metres away from a school bus stop — since early August. 

The house was purchased by a manager at WJS Canada, the company contracted by Community Living B.C. to provide housing and care for Conway, who has a developmental disability.

Property records show Lynnett Stucky-Mack purchased the house on July 29 for $440,000. Records also show Stucky-Mack lives in a home owned by Anne Nikon, WJS Canada’s executive director and a shareholder in the firm.

The house on Dewdney Trunk Road where convicted sex offender James Conway is living was purchased by Lynnett Stucky-Mack, an employee at WJS Canada, the company contracted by Community Living B.C. to handle Conway’s housing and care in Mission.

Two days after Stucky-Mack’s purchase, B.C. Corrections issued a public notification Conway was moving to Mission.

Public Safety critic Mike Farnworth said the property’s ownership raises questions on conflict of interest.

“There’s a series of questions that need to be asked and addressed about the choice of this particular house,” said Farnworth. “Convenience seems to be more the priority as opposed to public safety.”

The situation surrounding the house’s ownership and Conway’s placement also raises concerns about the adequacy of oversight of taxpayer-funded contracts awarded to WJS Canada which received approximately $24 million from CLBC in the last three fiscal years, including $9 million in 2014-2015.

CLBC said last week it was conducting an internal investigation with WJS Canada to determine if there was a conflict of interest or breach of policy. It said it was unaware the house was owned by its contractor’s employee. WJS Canada also issued a statement last week saying it was co-operating with CLBC, saying “we are confident that this is an isolated incident and any investigation into our business practices will confirm this.”

Stucky-Mack and Nikon have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

Mission Mayor Randy Hawes said he has zero confidence in the internal investigation and echoed Farnsworth’s calls for an independent investigation by the auditor general.

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Anne Nikon has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

“Was this house picked because it was one for sale or because it had the best price as an investment?” he said. “What’s clear to us in Mission is that the investment superseded any concerns the public may have about the location.”

Hawes said the city plans to go to court to get Conway out on the basis the house is being used outside its permitted zoning — a tactic used by the city of Abbotsford last year to remove Conway from its community.

In a letter submitted to the auditor general Monday, Farnworth called for an investigation into reporting requirements between WJS Canada and CLBC and the ministry, as well as into the scope and frequency of reviews and audits.

At stake, said Farnworth, is public confidence in the justice system.

“What this whole incident does is undermine public confidence in the system,” he said. “The public has to have the confidence that these decisions are made in the interest of public safety, not what’s convenient for the contractor or the ministry.” 

chchan@postmedia.com

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