Two weeks before bidding closes to privatize B.C.'s liquor logistics, the head of the Liquor Distribution Branch has tendered his resignation.
In a memo to staff on Thursday, general manager Jay Chambers said he will be leaving July 6. He said he is leaving to become the president of the Motor Vehicle Sales Authority of B.C., the 2004-established body delegated by the province to enforce the Motor Dealer Act and Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act's sections on the sale of motor vehicles.
"It is with very mixed emotions that I have made this decision," the memo says. "Words cannot properly describe just how much I have enjoyed being the general manager of the LDB. However, I have been in this job for over 15 years and I feel that it is time for a change, both for me and the LDB."
Chambers announced chief financial officer Roger Bissoondatt would become the acting general manager until a permanent replacement is found.
"On a personal note, what I will miss most about working at the LDB is you, the great employees," continued the memo. "It has been a pleasure and privilege to work with you. The LDB was a very well-run business when I joined the company and I am very proud to say that, because of your efforts, it continues to be a very well-run business. This is a reflection of the quality of staff that work at the LDB – no individual or single department has been responsible for your success – it is a team effort."
Bidding closes June 29 for the Distribution of Liquor Project and a shortlist of one to three proponents is expected July 20.
“It’s very interesting that he’s going for a new job in the middle of the shortlisting process,” said NDP critic Shane Simpson. “He’s bailing out, this makes it increasingly difficult for the government to proceed.”
Simpson called Chambers the “most knowledgeable” person on the privatization and cited his departure as another reason why it should be halted.
“[Chambers is] the key player in putting it together and moving it forward,” Simpson said.
Simpson, citing a BIV investigation, called the process “tainted” on May 8 in the Legislature.
Frontrunner Exel Logistics, which has the Alberta monopoly through its unit Connect Logistics, boasted in a 2009 internal memo obtained by BIV that it could use its close relationship with liquor minister Rich Coleman to influence the writing of the request for proposals. Exel hired BC Liberal-connected lobbyists Mark Jiles and Patrick Kinsella to propose changing the liquor distribution model.
Besides Exel, the bidders are ContainerWorld Forwarding Services, Centric Retail Logistics, Dimex Distribution, GL Distribution, Hillebrand Westlink, Kuehne + Nagel and Schenker of Canada.
At a May 9 industry information meeting in LDB's Vancouver headquarters, Chambers told attendees he was heading a four-person committee to select the private operator for recommendation to Treasury Board. Chambers reports to Coleman, who is a member of Treasury Board.
For the 2010-2011 fiscal year, Chambers was paid $199,847.
