Esquimalt boy Michael Bryant, intensely political since his toddler days, found himself in the middle of a political controversy Tuesday that has more than a few angles.

The most obvious one played out in the legislature, where Opposition critics demanded to know why Premier David Eby hired Bryant, the former head of the B.C. Legal Aid Society, to consult on the future of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, then forgot to tell anyone about it.

Global TV broke the news that he was hired on a six-month contract worth $150,000 to consult and advise on how to co-ordinate all the government efforts in that neighbourhood.

The appointment is going to prompt a continuing barrage of questions and objections. It’s a huge amount of money. Bryant’s role looks to be another case of Eby bypassing his own government and hiring a special adviser. His term with the Legal Aid Society was abbreviated for reasons the Opposition is demanding to know.

The arguments may overshadow the fact that maybe an outside look at the Downtown Eastside is in order.

It has been B.C.’s........

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