Acting solicitor general apologizes for ICBC scandal

Acting Solicitor General John van Dongen has issued a public apology for the activities at the ICBC repair and research centre in Burnaby, B.C., that were revealed in an internal investigation released this week.

The conduct at the facility was unacceptable to him and to the government, van Dongen said in the legislature in Victoria on Wednesday.

"I want to apologize, first of all, to the purchasers of vehicles that may have been deficient or where there was improper disclosure," he said.

"And I want to apologize to all of British Columbia who have a right to expect integrity within their Crown corporations."

In February, the ICBC closed the facility when it was learned that 98 repaired vehicles were being sold without full disclosure of their accident history.

At least 22 of the 98 wrecked vehicles repaired at the facility were bought by ICBC managers at rigged auctions, an internal investigation revealed Tuesday.

Van Dongen, whose portfolio is in charge of ICBC, apologized to all those who have been affected.

ICBC has refused comment on reports that at least three managers were fired over the scandal, but said PricewaterhouseCoopers is auditing the research centre's activities and the findings will eventually be made public.