BC

Independent MLA John van Dongen wants BC's conflict of interest commissioner to step out of an investigation just days after he asked him to step in to look at allegations he's making against Premier Christy Clark.

Van Dongen said Friday he now wants conflict commissioner Paul Fraser to step away from the investigation request on grounds of possible bias because John Paul Fraser, his son, holds a senior position in Clark's government.

Earlier this week, van Dongen filed an official request with Paul Fraser's office to conduct an investigation to determine if Clark was in conflict of interest nine years ago when she was part of the Liberal government when it sold Crown-owned BC Rail.

Clark was the education minister and deputy premier in 2003 when the sale of BC Rail to CN Rail occurred, touching off a series of events that saw the police raid the legislature and two Liberal government aides plead guilty to corruption-related charges.

Van Dongen said he did not know Fraser's son worked for the government or that he is a personal friend of Clark when the request with the conflict commissioner was filed.