12°c Light drizzle
17°c Mainly cloudy
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Courts an option to find answers in election expenses rebate issue: Opposition
PC Leader Hugh McFadyen (right) and Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard speak with media at a mock committee meeting Tuesday at the Legislative Building. (MIKE.APORIUS@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)
Related Items
-
Articles
- Balasko has some explaining to do
- Opposition pounds NDP as session ends
- Tories accuse Elections Manitoba of bias
- NDP nixes Tories' motion for rebate debate
- Opposition MLAs press for details on vote returns
- Let's see the ruling on NDP
- NDP finance flap behind us: Doer
- NDP, Tories continue battle over 1999 election expenses
- Selinger feared election fallout
-
Columns
The Tories are considering appealing to the courts to get to the bottom of Elections Manitoba's investigation of an NDP campaign rebate issue.
Flanked by Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard, Tory Leader Hugh McFadyen said the courts are an "absolute last resort" if pressure for an inquiry goes nowhere in the fall.
The duo gathered their MLA's together this morning in a meeting room in the Manitoba Legislature for a mock sitting of the legislative affairs committee. That's the committee that hears from the chief electoral officer about once a year – the only time he speaks publicly.
The opposition invited Chief Electoral Officer Richard Balasko to attend and answer questions but he declined, saying he is accountable to the legislature in its entirety. In a letter to the opposition leader, Balasko reiterated that his office acts indepedently and treats all parties the same.
The Doer government has been in hot water this spring over a the approach it used in the 1999 election to max out taxpayer-funded rebates all campaigns get to offset some expenses.
The NDP listed full-time union workers as expenses instead of donations in kind and reaped $76,000 in rebates that Elections Manitoba later ordered the party to pay back.
The issue recently made news again when the Tories released a series of letters suggesting the NDP had obstructed Elections Manitoba's investigation.
The Tories and Liberals also say Elections Manitoba went easy on the ruling party, choosing not to lay charges even though other MLAs have faced charges.
History
Updated on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 11:28 AM CDT: Updated.
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 21 articles for today)
Overnight stabbings probed
8:37 AMWinnipeg police are investigating a pair of early-morning stabbing incidents.
A man in his 20s was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening ...
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Woman drove into river on purpose
- Rare comic book featuring debut of Superman found insulating abandoned house in Minnesota
- Systemic approach to voter interference 'extremely worrisome': Trudeau
- Evidence ignored in dangerous driving acquital, appeal court told
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- 'I do not use crack cocaine': Ford ends week of silence on crack video scandal
- City's first urban reserve born
- Police searching for suspect who woke sleeping teen
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
- Catching up with Arrested Development's Bluth family
- Toews 'disappointed' U.S., Canada at loggerheads over meat labeling regulations
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- Youth faces murder charge in Pauingassi First Nation death
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- City's first urban reserve born
- New owner for lumber stores
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Order of Manitoba recipients announced
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.