Manitoba’s premier has apologized to defence lawyers after he was slammed for his decision to oust an MLA from the NDP caucus because his former law partner represents convicted sex offender Peter Nygard.
Wab Kinew made the apology during legislative proceedings at the start of the fall session Wednesday afternoon.
The premier said the expulsion of Mark Wasyliw was justified but apologized to Gerri Wiebe — Wasyliw’s former law partner — and defence lawyers.
“The reasons given for the expulsion of one of our former MLAs were accurate. However, upon reflection, my desire for transparency to the people of Manitoba should have been outweighed by my deep respect for the independence of the justice system. All that I should have said publicly is that there are irreconcilable differences with that MLA and we wish him well,” Kinew said.
“As a result of this, earlier today, I apologized to Gerri Wiebe privately, and I now repeat that apology publicly. Gerry Wiebe, I am sorry, I also want to say this: I apologize to defence attorneys as a profession. You perform an important function for our society. I offer these apologies with the deepest of humility, with the utmost sincerity and without reservation.”
Wasyliw will sit as an independent after he was kicked out of caucus on Sept. 16. He later told the Free Press that Kinew “will bully people.”
“He is very demeaning to staff and MLAs when he talks to them. He will run them down — very disrespectful,” Wasyliw said that day.
Kinew defended the caucus decision the next day, telling reporters Wasyliw was given a choice to be part of the NDP “team” or be affiliated with the convicted sex attacker and go with a law firm that is “making money” from him.
“He can be affiliated with the NDP, or he can be affiliated with Peter Nygard, but he can’t be both,” Kinew said at the time. “That’s the choice that was put to this MLA, and he decided to go with his law practice instead of with the team.”
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca