“I’d like to thank the RCMP and Special Prosecutor for their fair and thorough investigation into these baseless accusations,” Sims said in a press release. Unfortunately, Andrew Wilkinson’s decision to promote these fabricated claims resulted in the unnecessary diversion of police time and resources.  Every day, my focus remained on serving my constituents. I’m pleased that the RCMP has confirmed there is no evidence to support any of these claims,” said Surrey-Panorama MLA Jinny Sims.

By PD Raj – Senior Writer - DESIBUZZCanada

VICTORIA- Surrey-Panorama MLA Jinny Sims has been cleared in the Conflict of interest investigation by the RCMP, where she was accused, among other things, of writing letters of support for Pakistani nationals in exchange for money.

“I’d like to thank the RCMP and Special Prosecutor for their fair and thorough investigation into these baseless accusations,” Sims said in a press release. Unfortunately, Andrew Wilkinson’s decision to promote these fabricated claims resulted in the unnecessary diversion of police time and resources. 

“Every day, my focus remained on serving my constituents. I’m pleased that the RCMP has confirmed there is no evidence to support any of these claims,” she added

The former Citizens Services Minister, who was replaced by NDP colleague Anne Kang, came under attack from the opposition BC Liberals over unsubstantiated allegations that she was taking money for writing reference letters for Pakistanis who were later found to be on a security watch list.

Sims responded at the time, strongly denying all the accusations which include writing visa support letters for 10 Pakistanis on behalf of her supporter Rabina Sattar (Fired staffer Kate Gillie alleges that Rabina Sattar told her that each Pakistani was paying $10,000 for the letters), circumventing privacy laws through private emails and allegedly doing favours for an Indo-Canadian developer Gurdeep “Goldie” Dhaliwal in exchange for campaign donations (practically every politician including much of the BC Liberal caucus, has been or can be accused of doing this).

Sims has maintained that she is innocent and remainedconfident that her name will be cleared.

 “I have not been given details of any allegations but there was no credibility to previous public allegations. I am confident that my name will be cleared but do not want to distract form the important work of government in the meantime,” Sims said at the time.

“These allegations are completely untrue. I follow the rules and best practices on records management and advise my staff to as well. I help people in our community because it is my job as a representative. I do not take money for it and I’m offended that anyone would suggest otherwise,” Sims said

Sims responded at the time, strongly denying all the accusations which include writing visa support letters for 10 Pakistanis).

 “I wrote a letter, but no money was ever discussed. As an MP, I used to write these letters,” Sims told reporters after Question Period where Opposition grilled her on the accusations.

Sims said at the time she never received any money for the letters. Visa support letters are common practice, she said, but she admitted it was a mistake to include her job title. “In this case, I knew some of the people who were coming,” she said.

These and other allegation came from a letter written by an ex-employee Kate Gillie, who charged that staff were told to never admit the use of personal email for ministerial business as “we have to protect the minister.”

Sims said at the time this matter is related to a challenging HR situation regarding a former employee and due to privacy she can’t get into further details.

 “When the letter was received in March after her (ex-staff) employment had ended, the claims she made were reviewed and there was no evidence to support them. The issue was dealt with by Caucus as she was not a government employee,” she said.

 “Ministers use their government account for government business and legislative account for legislative or constituency business. That is how the system is meant to work and that is what I explained to staff. That’s appropriate. I use my government email for government business and I do not use Whatsapp for government work.”

Gillie in her letter made loads of colourful accusations including calling local beautician Mindy Bansal an unqualified Executive Assistant who threw temper tantrums at her and was only hired to brush up Sims’ online image. She also warned MP John Aldag not to write support letters for Sims’ people.