On February 11, the Ministry of Attorney General announced it has received an interim report on the inquiry into the freezing death of Frank Paul, an aboriginal man left at an alley in the winter of 1998 by the Vancouver police.

The Inquiry Act brought in by the B.C. Liberals effectively gives the government the power to delay the release of public-inquiry reports and censor portions of them.

On Monday (March 2), NDP public-safety critic Mike Farnworth and Attorney General Wally Oppal had this exchange at the legislature, as recorded in the draft Hansard transcript:

M. Farnworth: Can the Attorney General confirm that he has the Frank Paul...? The results of the Frank Paul inquiry have been sitting on his desk for the last 19 days. Can he tell this House when he intends to release it?

Hon. W. Oppal: I do have the Frank Paul interim report. It’s 445 pages in length. We have to abide by the law before we release such a report. The Inquiry Act sets forth”¦. I recommend the Inquiry Act for reading”¦

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. W. Oppal: ”¦for the members. We usually follow the law on this side of the House.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Attorney. Attorney, just sit down.  

Members.

Attorney, continue.

Hon. W. Oppal: The report will be released.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

M. Farnworth: It’s been sitting on the minister’s desk for 19 days. The minister said it was 445 pages. That’s a little over 20 pages a day, I think. I would have thought the Attorney General would have been quite capable of reading 20 pages a day.

Let me ask this question to the Attorney General. Will he commit to this House that it’s released before the writ is dropped?

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Just wait, Attorney.

Hon. W. Oppal: The members opposite can make fun of this and make light of it, but this is a serious report. It dealt with the death of a man who was in police custody. That report needs to be taken seriously, and we are”¦.

Interjections.

Hon. W. Oppal: It may provoke a lot of laughter over there, but I can tell you the report is not funny. It will be released. We have to go through all the”¦.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Continue, Attorney.  

Hon. W. Oppal: There are other ministries involved. There are privacy considerations to canvass. The law needs to be adhered to. We will release the report, and I can assure the member that it will be released before the writ is dropped.