RCMP investigating recording made by MLA Andrew Younger, who denies more exist

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s governing Liberals have handed a secret recording of a conversation between MLA Andrew Younger and the Premier’s Chief of Staff over to police, after allegations of bribery were made in an anonymous letter.

The letter and recording were left at the legislature Wednesday, prompting the government to release them to the media Thursday, as well as passing it along to the RCMP.

The letter states the tape is evidence of Kirby McVicar, Premier Stephen McNeil’s Chief of Staff, offering a bribe to Dartmouth-East MLA Younger while he was on leave from cabinet for personal reasons last winter.

It states McVicar was offering a job to Younger’s wife because the leave from cabinet was hurting the Dartmouth-East MLA financially.

“I can’t speak for the Premier on when he’s going to do it, but what he’s asking you to do is come back and to use my words, be a soldier this session,” McVicar can be heard saying on the tape.

“I know you’re taking a financial hit, I know that’s painful and if there’s anything we can do for your wife on that side, if there’s anything let us know.”

The full audio can be found below.

Younger said he had recently found the tape and distributed to his inner circle but wasn’t behind Wednesday’s anonymous release of the recording, or the subsequent letter.

“I distributed it to people in my circle who were involved since January and we discussed whether to release it, and at that point I decided to move on so I didn’t bother,” he said.

Premier Stephen McNeil said the recording was turned over to police because it appears to make a serious allegation against McVicar.

Progressive Conservative and Opposition leader Jamie Baillie said McVicar should step aside until the matter is resolved by police.

“The RCMP are investigating something that includes the Premier’s Chief of Staff, as along as that’s the case, he can’t do his job,” Baillie said.

“Because he can’t do his job properly…he should step aside.”

McNeil said McVicar will remain in his position, because he points out, context is missing and that’s why he would like to see the whole recording released.

“I’m certainly not happy with what I heard in the context of those 40 seconds, but I think I need to look at it in it’s totality,” McNeil said.

“I can tell you we’ve turned the tape over to the RCMP.”

On Thursday, the House of Assembly passed a motion calling on Younger to release any and all recordings of conversations with McVicar that are in his possession. The motion passed unanimously.

The RCMP confirmed receving the tape and have opened an investigation but released no other details.

Younger’s letter to the Legislature, legal oath

On Friday, Younger released a copy of his letter to the Chief Clerk of the Nova Scotia Legislature, in which he denies having any more recordings of conversations between himself and McVicar.

“I am not aware of the existence of recording of any conversations between me and the Premier, or the Premier’s Chief of Staff, other than the two files which have already been released,” he writes.

In releasing the letter, Younger denied a request for an interview from The Rick Howe Show, saying he has moved on.

Younger said the motion suggested a 20-minute recording existed between Younger and McVicar, which he said doesn’t exist.

“It’s my recollection that the discussion with Mr. Kirby McVicar which occurred at my constituency office in Februrary of this year was very short, and not anywhere close to a length of 20 minutes which has been suggested,” Younger wrote.

“If the Premier or House Leader has determined there was a 20 minute conversation, I can only surmise that they have a recording of their own, which I would encourage them to release, as I am extremely confident that such a recording would further go to demonstrate that the Premier’s Office was fully involved in making demands on the actions of me and my family.”

He said the recording was made after discussion with advisers, including a member of the RCMP, to protect himself against any future allegations.

He also released a legal oath he signed at Legislature Friday morning, denying knowledge of any additional audio recordings.

In his letter Younger said no files exist on his computer and the surveillance system in his office only retains data for a few weeks. He also said data from his government-issued Blackberry was wiped remotely at the order of the Premier’s office on Nov.5, and subsequently returned the next day along with his laptop and IPad.

He also stood by earlier assertions that he was not behind the release of the tape, but does believe it was someone in his inner circle.

In the Legislature Friday morning, Baillie called on McVicar and Younger to both answer question in the house, but Younger said he has been told to only speak to the RCMP.

Stephen McNeil said Friday morning that McVicar will answer questions once the entire tape is released.

In the House, McNeil said they’ve also turned over everything available about the issue.

The Speaker ruled he would take comments from MLA’s under advisement and will decide what happens next Friday afternoon.