Kirby McVicar says he won't resign over secret Andrew Younger recording

The premier's chief of staff says he will not resign following the release Monday of a 12-minute conversation secretly recorded by former Liberal cabinet minister Andrew Younger.

The audio file, and the controversy that surrounds it, has forced Kirby McVicar to step out of the shadows. Stephen McNeil's right-hand man is speaking publicly for the first time about that meeting and his offer of a job to Younger's wife.

McVicar said he met with Younger at his constituency office in Dartmouth on Feb. 12 to convince the suspended cabinet minister to rejoin caucus.

On the tape McVicar, says he hopes a "legal situation" involving Younger will "get tossed" and appears, out of the blue, to offer to find Younger's wife, Katia Younger, a job.

12:12Andrew Younger recording with Kirby McVicar

Recording between Andrew Younger and Premier Stephen McNeil's chief of staff .

In an interview with CBC News on Monday, McVicar said Younger had told him his wife might soon be laid off. That part of the conversation is not on the recording.

"That audio may be the complete audio — but it's not the complete conversation that took place that day," McVicar said. 

No offer of resignation

He also explains the job offer as simply an attempt to take the pressure off an MLA who was under tremendous stress.

"Mr. Younger indicated to me that he had PTSD," McVicar said.

"Mr. Younger indicated to me he had a brain tumour. Mr. Younger had death threats on he and his family. Mr. Younger was under police protection. Mr. Younger was also the alleged victim in a potential crime. And he had a lot of pressure on his life."

The issue of the recording, including two small snippets that were previously released, has dominated question period and been headline news since the legislature resumed for the fall sitting. 

McVicar has not offered to resign.

"The day that I don't fulfill [McNeil's] needs or the day that I feel the trust isn't there any more then I would leave," McVicar said. "I don't believe we're at that point."

'I wish I had served him better'

Asked if he has served the premier well in this affair, McVicar paused, sighed and said: "I wish I had served him better."

The opposition parties have called on McVicar to be removed from his post, pending the outcome of an RCMP investigation. The Mounties were called by the premier's office last week after a 43-second piece of the recording detailing the Katia Younger job offer was dropped off at the legislature.

The Liberals also demanded Younger hand over the entire recording of the conversation. Younger denied last week that he had it.

However, faced with a warrant issued by the Speaker of the House, he says he found a copy on the a cloud-based backup and turned it in to the legislature on Monday.