B.C. Liberal party exec Laura Miller resigns, facing criminal charges in Ontario

B.C. Liberal party executive director Laura Miller has resigned, afterbeingchargedwith three criminal counts in Ontario in relation to an investigation into the destruction of documents pertaining to cancelled gas plants in Ontario.

Miller has been charged with breach of trust,mischief, andmisuse of a computer system to commit mischief.

Miller was a deputy chief of staffunder Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty until 2013.

• Dalton McGuinty's ex-chief of staff, deputy charged in gas plant scandal

Miller took to twitter to defend herself saying, "I've stepped down from @BCLiberals as I prepare to vigorously defend myself back in Ontario."

Miller, 36, and former McGuinty chief of staff David Livingston are accused of deleting thousands of governmentemails pertaining to the decision to canceltwo Greater Toronto Area gas-fired power plantsin the lead-up to the 2011 Ontario provincial election.The controversial decision costOntario taxpayers $1.1 billion, according to the auditor general.

The OPPsaid in a release that the charges come after a "complex" investigation into the scandal led by its anti-rackets branch.

None of the allegations hasbeen proven in court.

Ontario Provincial Police allege that Miller's boyfriend, PeterFaist, had access to computers in McGuinty'soffice and possibly deleted files just before the premier relinquished power in 2013.

At the time,Faistwas under contract to provide IT services for the Ontario government caucus and the Ontario Liberal Party.

The accused are scheduled to make a first appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on Jan. 27, 2016.

The B.C. Liberal government is currently embroiled in a "triple-delete" scandal regarding the keeping of government records. Yesterday, a report prompted by a damning investigation in the culture of "triple deleting" emails in B.C. government offices called for tougher penalties for staff and politicians who try to evade freedomof information requests.

B.C. Premier Christy Clark issued a statement regarding Miller's resignationwhich read in part:"In British Columbia, Laura Miller is known to her colleagues as a person of integrity and someone who has worked hard to move our party and the province forward."

But opposition NDP leader John Horgan said the Clark herselfshould be underscrutiny.

"This speaks to the characterand the judgment of the premier," he said. "[Clark]currently has two special prosecutors investigating her government ... and when you see the head of the very political party that's been running B.C for 16 yearsmoving back to Ontario to face criminal charges, it speaks to the judgment of the premier who hired Ms. Miller when she was under investigationbythe RCMP."