BC

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark, left, and then multiculturalism minister John Yap walk together during an announcement at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Richmond, on Friday December 7, 2012. Yap has stepped aside from his cabinet position pending an investigation of the government's ethnic voter outreach scandal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

The controversy over a leaked document distributed by a former key staffer in British Columbia Premier Christy Clark's office has claimed another victim.

Clark announced her Multiculturalism Minister John Yap is out of cabinet pending the outcome of a review of a controversial government ethnic vote strategy.

Clark said Monday Yap has stepped aside as minister responsible for multiculturalism and minister of advanced education, innovation and technology until a review of the leaked strategy is competed by her deputy minister John Dyble.

Yap told reporters that he's taking responsibility for the contents of the report, but he also said he had never seen the document.

"I'm the minister responsible. This is an issue that involves multiculturalism and the responsibility rests with me as the current minister responsibility for multiculturalism."

Ralph Sultan, the Minister of State for Seniors, is taking over Yap's duties.

On Friday, Clark's deputy chief of staff Kim Haakstad resigned without severance over the document.

Haakstad emailed the 17-page "Multicultural Strategic Outreach Plan" to several other Liberals via private emails.