Manitoba premier apologizes for failing to follow rules in disclosure of $31.2M in property sales
CTV
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson admits she failed to follow conflict of interest rules around the disclosure of more than $31.2 million in sales of properties, and is apologizing for her error.
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson admits she failed to follow conflict of interest rules around the disclosure of more than $31.2 million in sales of properties, and is apologizing for her error.
The violation of Manitoba's conflict of interest rules came following the sales of three properties by the McDonald Grain Company. Documents from the Manitoba Companies Office identify Stefanson as holding 20 per cent of the voting shares in the company.
McDonald Grain Company sold Drury Manor Apartments at 1833 Pembina Highway for $22.5 million, and The Ritz apartments at 859 Grosvenor Avenue for $7 million in 2019. And in 2016, the company sold a storage facility at 351 Saulteaux Crescent for $1.7 million.
Politicians in Manitoba, according to the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Conflict of Interest Act, are required to disclose any acquisition or disposal of assets within 30 days – something Stefanson confirmed she failed to do for these sales.
"What was not filled out was Form 2 which says you must disclose within 30 days of any disposition of assets. My mistake was not disclosing within the 30-day requirement," Stefanson told CTV News in a pre-written statement.
"I apologize to Manitobans for my error in not filing my Form 2 and disclosing the sale of these assets within the 30-day timeline."
Stefanson said the sales of these properties have been fully disclosed and confirmed by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.
