Defence lawyer wants suspended sentence for former B.C. government aide

VANCOUVER — A defence lawyer for a former British Columbia government communications director says his client had “an enthusiasm for recklessness” but accepts responsibility for partisan work aimed at winning ethnic votes for the Liberal party.

Ian Donaldson told a provincial court sentencing hearing that Brian Bonney went too far when taxpayers’ resources were used to try to implement a so-called “quick wins” plan before the 2013 election.

But Donaldson says Bonney was not dishonest or corrupt and worked at the direction of others, including those in then premier Christy Clark’s office, when he supervised community liaison workers who were building contacts with ethnic groups and individuals.

Bonney was charged with breach of trust in May 2016 following an RCMP investigation and pleaded guilty last October.

Donaldson is asking for a suspended sentence while the Crown wants a 12- to 23-month conditional sentence to be served in the community.

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Special prosecutor David Butcher is expected to conclude submissions on Friday before a sentence is imposed on Jan. 31.

The Canadian Press