Stefanson, Wharton face ethics complaints

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This article was published 13/01/2024 (812 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — A backbench NDP MLA is accusing Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson and former cabinet minister Jeff Wharton of breaking conflict of interest laws in an alleged attempt to approve a proposed silica sand mine while the party was on the way out of office.

NDP caucus chair Mike Moyes filed complaints against both Stefanson and Wharton with Ethics Commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor on Friday.

Moyes said the complaint asks Schnoor to investigate the two MLAs for corruption, for putting their own interests ahead of Manitobans’ and for violating the Conflict of Interest Act.

“As your representatives in this legislature, you expect us to act with integrity,” Moyes said. “But Heather Stefanson and Jeff Wharton used their privileged positions to violate that trust.”

Moyes’ complaints are based on public statements by former PC ministers Kevin Klein and Rochelle Squires.

The pair claimed they received separate calls from Wharton on Oct. 12, asking them to approve an environmental licence for Alberta-based Sio Silica to mine near Vivian in the Rural Municipality of Springfield.

Klein, the former environment minister, and Squires, who was acting environment minister, both said they refused to approve the project, saying to do so would violate the caretaker convention — a democratic principle that prevents governing parties from making major decisions while the legislature is dissolved and the government cannot be held accountable.

The NDP won the Oct. 3 election and was sworn into office on Oct. 18, following a two-week transition period.

Squires also said the mining project was described by Wharton as being of significant importance to Stefanson, but because of a conflict, Stefanson couldn’t direct an approval herself.

A statement issued by the PCs on Stefanson’s behalf said she has no conflict of interest with Sio Silica.

Neither Stefanson nor Wharton, the member for Red River North and PC economic development critic, took questions about the complaint Friday.

PC caucus spokesman Matt Preprost said no significant policy or political decisions were made after the election and were instead left for the incoming NDP government.

“The members in question will co-operate fully with any potential investigation by the ethics commissioner,” Preprost said in a statement.

Premier Wab Kinew was the first to raise concerns the PCs tried to rush the project through during the transition period.

In a year-end interview in December, Kinew told the Winnipeg Free Press an application by Sio Silica Corp. to mine in southeastern Manitoba was set for approval during the transition of power, prior to the NDP being sworn in.

However, the NDP requested the government hold off on a decision and the licence was not approved, Kinew said.

Klein, who lost his Kirkfield Park seat to the NDP, welcomed an ethics investigation “to hold politicians accountable.”

The former Winnipeg city councillor, mayoral candidate and provincial cabinet minister said he’s not sure that a probe will prove any wrongdoing, but said it may help the Tories.

“The party’s lost the trust of a lot of members,” Klein said.

“It is an opportunity for the party to regain the trust of their supporters, (get) more Manitobans supporting it and actively being involved.”

Klein hasn’t ruled out a bid to lead the party when Stefanson steps aside.

The PC party meets today to decide on new leadership election rules. Klein doesn’t expect the ethics complaint will be discussed.

“I wish it was, because I think it’s the elephant in the room,” he said. “The biggest issue we have is regaining the trust of Manitobans.”

A former clerk of Manitoba’s executive council — who now heads Ottawa’s Institute on Governance — said the complaint highlights “a real governance problem” and asks “a legitimate question” about the handling of the government transition.

During the transition, Stefanson was responsible for making sure her “ministers were acting properly throughout that whole piece,” said David McLaughlin, who served as clerk under former premier Brian Pallister and was fired by Stefanson.

Both Stefanson and Wharton would be wise to tell their side of the story because no matter what the ethics commissioner finds, public opinion is what counts, he argued.

“On this, right now, the court of public opinion is going to believe that something more nefarious has been done … even though at the end of the day, no permit was actually granted,” said McLaughlin.

Rural Municipality of Springfield Coun. Mark Miller was thrilled to hear a formal complaint had been made against Stefanson and Wharton.

Miller, who opposes the mining project, previously called for an ethics investigation, arguing events described by Klein, Squires and Kinew have raised questions about “political influence” and “backroom politics.”

“The public is frustrated and upset that politicians do these kinds of tactics, and it should not be at the peril of the environment — that it would cause people in Vivian and people all across southeastern Manitoba, frankly, to jeopardize their pristine and precious water,” the Ward 3 councillor said.

“This is a huge step forward for democracy and transparency and for the public to get the bottom of this entire fiasco that the (PCs) orchestrated themselves.”

Miller said he is hopeful a probe will uncover an explanation for the alleged attempt to fast-track an environmental licence for Sio Silica.

Wharton has refused to comment on what he said to Klein and Squires, other than to say he didn’t try to influence them.

It’s a challenging “he-said, she-said” first case under new legislation for Schnoor, said University of Manitoba political studies professor emeritus Paul Thomas.

The commissioner can compel testimony under oath and require the production of documents, including emails and text messages, Thomas said.

“Presumably he would look at the statements of assets and liabilities of the premier and her family to see if there are any financial circumstances that could give rise to a real or perceived conflict of interest. I doubt that there will be recordings of the key telephone conversations,” he said.

Pure silica sand is a key component in manufacturing a variety of high-tech products, including solar panels, computer chips, fibre optics and glass.

» Winnipeg Free Press