Premier Wab Kinew has defended the decision of the NDP caucus to oust MLA Mark Wasyliw because his lawyer colleague represents convicted sex offender Peter Nygard.
Kinew told reporters Tuesday the caucus made the “right decision,” insisting Wasyliw was given a choice to be part of the NDP “team” or be affiliated with the disgraced fashion mogul and go with a law firm that is “making money” off of Nygard.
“He can be affiliated with the NDP or he can be affiliated with Peter Nygard, but he can’t be both,” Kinew said in his office. “That’s the choice that was put to this MLA, and he decided to go with his law practice instead of with the team.”
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
Premier Wab Kinew dismissed MLA Mark Wasyliw’s claims he’s bullied staffers.’It’s disappointing that he’s chosen to push a lamp off the table on his way out the door.’
Kinew said he supports the caucus’ decision “100 per cent,” while denying Wasyliw’s assertion that the Fort Garry MLA was given an ultimatum. The premier said a person has a right to a defence attorney, but not a right “to be defended by an MLA.”
The premier said caucus leadership recently went to Wasyliw to tell him Nygard’s upcoming court dates in Winnipeg “will cause concern and real issues” for the NDP, and ask him to make a decision “between working with us or Nygard.”
“This was not a direction, this was a choice to this MLA,” said Kinew. “For somebody from our government team to be affiliated with that, (it) does not line up with our values as a political operation.”
The NDP doesn’t have time to “babysit someone’s law practice,” he added.
Kinew said he did not personally ask Wasyliw to make a choice. The premier said the decision to approach Wasyliw was made after Nygard was given an 11-year sentence by a Toronto judge last week in relation to sex attacks on four women.
Kinew said Manitobans will likely have a negative reaction to an MLA being affiliated with Nygard.
Defence lawyer Gerri Wiebe represented Nygard in Toronto against charges of sexual assault.
Nygard is due in Manitoba court on Oct. 11 to face similar charges.
“It’s disappointing that he’s chosen to push a lamp off the table on his way out the door.”– Premier Wab Kinew dismissing Wasyliw’s claims he is a toxic leader
Wiebe is also representing Nygard in Winnipeg. The 83-year-old also faces charges in Quebec and the United States.
After being turfed from caucus, Wasyliw accused Kinew of bullying people, and being demeaning to staff and MLAs. He also accused the premier of being a dysfunctional and toxic leader. Kinew dismissed the claims.
“It’s disappointing that he’s chosen to push a lamp off the table on his way out the door,” said Kinew.
Interim Progressive Conservative Leader Wayne Ewasko said he delivered a letter to the speaker Tuesday to call for a third-party investigation into “serious allegations” of bullying and harassment by Kinew.
“These are behaviours and actions unbecoming of a premier in Manitoba,” Ewasko told reporters.
chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca
Chris Kitching
Reporter
Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.
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