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One of Premier Christy Clark's most loyal supporters over the years has been charged criminally in connection with the 2013 multicultural-outreach scandal.

The B.C. government's communications director at the time for multiculturalism communications, Brian Bonney, faces one count of breach of trust.

Special prosecutor David Butcher laid the charge under section 122 of the Criminal Code of Canada. According to a media statement issued by the criminal justice branch, it's a crime for an official to commit a breach of trust "in connection with the duties of his office".

"The Special Prosecutor appreciates it has taken considerable time to complete his review of the matter for the purpose of charge assessment," the criminal justice branch stated.

The media statement cited the "breadth of the police investigation", "the complexity of the related legal and evidence-gathering issues", and "Criminal Code process requirements".

Bonney is due to appear in Provincial Court in Vancouver on June 23.

Butcher previously charged Bonney and B.C. Liberal party official Mark Robertson with three counts under the Elections Act in connection with a 2012 by-election campaign in Port Moody–Coquitlam. They were directors of a numbered company, known as Mainland Communications, which was also charged with three counts.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

The B.C. Liberal candidate lost that contest to New Democrat Joe Trasolini.

In 2013, a special prosecutor was appointed after then NDP leader Adrian Dix filed a complaint to the Mounties about the B.C. Liberals' conduct during the by-election campaign.

Bonney has worked as director of operations in the past with the B.C. Liberals. He supported Clark's bid for the B.C. Liberals and has been a business partner of former MLA Harry Bloy, who was the only member of caucus to support Clark's leadership campaign.

In 2002, Bonney lost the Burnaby mayoral election to Derek Corrigan.

After the 2013 election, Bonney worked as a contracted fundraiser for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

In an interview last year, the organization's president and CEO, Troy Lanigan, noted that 17 police officers were mentioned in documents relating to the Election Act charges.

“This is what we’re doing with law-enforcement resources in British Columbia? Chasing around whether someone volunteered or was paid for a losing by-election.…I mean, this is obscene,” Lanigan told the Straight at the time. “It’s absolutely ridiculous.”