An NDP minister’s response to complaints from one of serial killer Robert Pickton’s victims about the BC Coroners Service was written by that service, documents obtained under access to information laws indicate.
“It’s standard process for government correspondence staff to work with related ministry program areas to ensure the information they are gathering for queries is current and accurate,” a statement from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) said. “Beyond that the ministry has no further response.”
The Coroners Service response was almost exactly the same: “It is standard process for provincial government correspondence staff to work with ministry staff to ensure the information they are gathering for queries is current and accurate.”
Marnie Frey’s parents, Lynn and Rick Frey, had sought help from Attorney General David Eby in dealing with complaints against the BC Coroners Service for how they believe daughter Marnie’s remains were handled.
The issue was passed to Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) Mike Farnworth, who assured them they had everything the needed to bury their child.
“The Coroners Service advises that they have provided your family with all documentation necessary for the respectful disposition of your daughter’s remains in the manner of your choosing at any time,” Farnworth wrote to the Freys in July 2018.
However, that assurance was apparently written by the Coroners Service for the minister, recently released records indicate.
Rick Frey said he continues to ask the government and opposition Liberal MLAs for help but is routinely ignored.
He maintains there is nothing “standard” about having one’s child murdered by a serial killer.
“How can you go to someone I’m complaining about and ask them for assistance?” Frey asked. “It’s utterly ridiculous. You’re asking the fox if it had fun in the henhouse.
Frey suggested their standard process might need to be changed.
Glacier Media filed a freedom of information (FOI) request in September. An email that month from the deputy attorney general’s office FOI coordinator said the request “should also be directed to the Coroners Service, as their branch drafted the reply to the Freys and will likely have further background.”
However, said the attorney general’s ministry (MAG), it and the solicitor general ministry share an FOI coordinator.
– Jeremy Hainsworth, Glacier Media
