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A lawyer involved in B.C.'s missing women's inquiry into the Robert Pickton case is cautioning the public against reading anything into the fact that the commission's executive director is on leave.
Peter Gall, who is advising the inquiry on the investigation, said the commission only wants to ensure there is no perception of possible interference with the conduct of an investigation into staff in its office.
The National Post reported Wednesday that former commission employees complained staff in the commission's office made derogatory comments about other employees and sex workers.
Based on anonymous sources, the allegations didn't specify who the accusations were directed at.
The newspaper subsequently published another article based on an anonymous source, complaining that executive director John Boddie was too involved in preparing witnesses for testimony.
Boddie went on leave Monday and two lawyers are now investigating the allegations.
"Because Mr. Boddie manages the work flow of the staff, it was considered necessary to have Mr. Boddie temporarily go on leave from his position during the course of the investigation," Gall said in a statement.
"Given the high profile nature of the commission and the recent focus on its inner workings, this was done to ensure that there would be no perception of possible interference with the conduct of the investigation."
Gall said people should not jump to conclusions that there have been any findings of wrongdoing on Boddie's part.
In fact, Gall said Boddie has "contributed greatly" to the commission's work, and it is "most unfortunate that his leave from his position is being interpreted in some quarters as a finding of wrongdoing on his part."
Commissioner Wally Oppal weighed in on the issue Thursday, issuing a statement saying it's difficult to respond to anonymous and vague accusations.
One family member of a missing woman also raised concerns.
Lillian Beaudoin, whose sister Dianne Rock was murdered by Pickton, said the commission is being drowned out by persistent controversies.
Several participant groups, including aboriginal organizations and sex worker advocates, withdrew from the inquiry last year after the provincial government announced it wouldn't fund them legally.
Last month, Robyn Gervais, an independent lawyer appointed by Oppal to represent First Nations, resigned, saying the inquiry was too focused on police and not aboriginal women.
"This inquiry was to find out what happened to the missing women, how they can improve anything for the missing girls, what the police did wrong," said Beaudoin outside the hearings Thursday.
"We have very little time remaining, and a lot of witnesses to go through. To add more stories like this, to me it feels like a diversion away from what this whole inquiry is all about."
The inquiry is examining why Vancouver police and the RCMP failed to catch Pickton.
The serial killer was eventually convicted of six counts of Second Degree Murder and accused in the deaths of numerous other women.
With files from James Keller
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