The Progressive Conservatives are calling for an investigation into allegations of workplace bullying and harassment by Premier Wab Kinew.
The official opposition is holding a news conference Tuesday afternoon following comments made Monday by MLA Mark Wasyliw after he was removed from the NDP caucus.
“(Kinew) will bully people instead of trying to build consensus,” Wasyliw told the Free Press after being kicked out of caucus for having a business associate who represents convicted sex offender Peter Nygard. “He is very demeaning to staff and MLAs when he talks to them. He will run them down — very disrespectful.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
Interim Tory Leader Wayne Ewasko has asked house Speaker Tom Lindsey and the clerks of both the legislative assembly and the executive council to investigate the allegation against Kinew.
“The man couldn’t pass a respectful workplace review.”
On Tuesday afternoon, the Tories announced they would ask house Speaker Tom Lindsey and the clerks of both the legislative assembly and the executive council to investigate.
“This isn’t about politics and the fallout between Wab Kinew and Mark Wasyliw,” interim leader Wayne Ewasko said in a news release. “This is about civil servants and staff at the legislative assembly — protecting the respectful workplace they deserve, and ensuring that people feel safe coming forward to report any misconduct by the premier and his senior staff.”
Wasyliw said earlier that he doesn’t believe the NDP kicked him out for being associated with fellow criminal defence lawyer Gerri Wiebe, who is representing the disgraced former businessman.
A statement from NDP caucus chairman Mike Moyes on Monday said “MLA Wasyliw’s failure to demonstrate good judgment does not align with our caucus principles of mutual respect and trust. As such, MLA Wasyliw can no longer continue his role in our caucus.”
Wasyliw said he believes the premier directed the NDP caucus to oust him.
“This is about civil servants and staff at the legislative assembly — protecting the respectful workplace they deserve, and ensuring that people feel safe coming forward to report any misconduct by the premier and his senior staff.”–Interim leader Wayne Ewasko
“He saw a news story involving my former law partner, and that triggered him and then the ultimatum and now I’m gone,” said Wasyliw, who called the premier “a dysfunctional and toxic leader” who “does not take criticism well.”
The PCs said the allegations made by Wasyliw demand a third-party investigation “to depoliticize the process” that “restores respect, professionalism, and trust in the Manitoba government.”
The clerks and the Speaker have the power to investigate “this culture crisis of the premier’s own making,” Ewasko said. “We want to work with them to bring integrity back to government.”
In November, Kinew ordered a review of a harassment-reporting policy for government employees after former Tory cabinet minister Sarah Guillemard said she was groped by an ex-MLA at a gala event in March 2017.
The premier asked the clerk of the executive council — the head of Manitoba’s civil service — to review the “no wrong door” initiative implemented by the Progressive Conservatives in 2018.
The initiative allows government employees to report harassment directly to the Public Service Commission, the executive council clerk or both.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES
MLA Mark Wasyliw says Premier Wab Kinew ‘couldn’t pass a respectful workplace review.’
Kinew said at the time the review will determine whether the policy needs to be strengthened or updated. He said a review was needed because the policy is about five years old.
Reporting guidance and mandatory anti-harassment training are included in Manitoba’s respectful workplace policies for MLAs and civil servants.
carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.
Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.