16°c A few clouds
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
13 MLAs received 33 free Jets tickets: Selinger
Energy Minister Dave Chomiak (TYLER WALSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Who got tickets?
A list of MLAs, the number of tickets they received, and from whom:
Rob Altemeyer:1
Triple AAA Consulting
Steve Ashton: 2
MB Homebuilders’ Association
Manitoba Lotteries Commission
Peter Bjornson: 1
MB Homebuilders’ Association
Dave Chomiak: 2
Tundra Oil
MTS
Ron Kostyshyhn: 3
MB Homebuilders’ Association
Northwest Company
MB Homebuilders’ Association
Ron Lemieux: 1
MB Homebuilders’ Association
Gord Mackintosh: 1
Manitoba Liquor Control Commission
Flor Marcelino: 2
Canad Inns
Eric Robinson: 2
Northwest Company
Jim Rondeau: 4
Sturgeon Creek Retirement Home (2)
Labatt’s (2)
Erin Selby: 1
Red River College
Stan Struthers: 3
Red River College (1)
MB Homebuilders’ Association (2)
Andrew Swan: 8
Canad Inns (2)
MB Homebuilders’ Association (1)
Red River College (1)
Manitoba Public Insurance (4)
Related Items
Premier Greg Selinger apologized Friday on behalf of his government for the ongoing Jets tickets scandal while announcing that he would ask MLAs from both sides of the legislature to eschew free professional sports tickets from Crown corporations, businesses and unions.
Selinger also released an updated list of government MLAs who have received free Jets tickets. It contains the names of 13 MLAs, including 12 cabinet ministers, who received a total of 33 free tickets.
The biggest recipient was Justice Minister Andrew Swan, who received eight tickets from four different sources. Finance Minister Stan Struthers received three tickets, one from Red River College and two from Manitoba Homebuilders.
"I’ve always believed that Manitobans expect their elected officials to uphold the highest possible standards for public life," Selinger told reporters at a 4 p.m. news conference. "Clearly, we didn’t get it right here and I accept responsibility for that."
The premier said he has told his MLAs to either repay the cost of the tickets or make charitable donations for the value of tickets received.
He did not indicate whether he would further punish any of the MLAs.
Selinger said he would ask the Legislative Assembly’s management committee and the province’s ethics commissioner to make sure that new guidelines against accepting professional sports tickets apply to all MLAs. He wants MLAs from both sides of the house to declare any tickets they have received from Crown corporations, unions and businesses.
Earlier Friday, Selinger said he would not ask his energy minister Dave Chomiak to resign over Chomiak’s acceptance of free Jets tickets from an oil exploration company.
"He’s been a very capable minister over the years," Selinger said Friday, adding he expects Chomiak will pay for the Jets tickets from Tundra Oil and Gas.
"We expect him to do the right thing," Selinger said. "He’s a good guy."
"Ministers do understand the conflict of interest," he added. "They should not be accepting tickets from either a Crown corporation or private business.
"People have to be more on the ball about these things."
Chomiak attended a game at the MTS Centre last Feb. 14.
Chomiak said in an interview with Global News that he did nothing wrong in accepting the tickets.
"It's doing business, you can’t not do business with companies that are in Manitoba, it has to do with jobs, job creation, there's several thousand people working in the oil field in Manitoba, I think it's appropriate to meet with these companies," he said, adding he also also accepted free tickets from telecom provider MTS last October.
Global News also reported that Chomiak had just that day disclosed he’s received the tickets from Tundra. MLAs are required by law to disclose gifts over $250. Tundra did not return calls from Global.
The revelation came the same day the NDP released a new policy banning cabinet ministers and government MLA from accepting free tickets to pro sports events.
The controversy erupted earlier this week after it was revealed the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission had been given hundreds of tickets to Jets games in exchange for a $250,000 advertising contract at MTS Centre. Most of the tickets were used by executives, board members and senior managers.
Manitoba Public Insurance, Manitoba Lotteries and Manitoba Hydro also had Jets season tickets.
History
Updated on Friday, May 11, 2012 at 5:04 PM CDT: Adds new comment from Selinger.
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 47 articles for today)
'I told them, "I think that guy downstairs is dead'": teen witness at murder trial
5:17 PM
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Vendor fired at Houston's Minute Maid Park after taking tray of snow cones into bathroom
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- New downtown tower could be 42 storeys tall: developers
- Some good news, some bad news from weatherman
- Catching up with the Jets
- 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
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- 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
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Youths in Stockholm burn down restaurant, torch more than 30 cars in 4th night of rioting
- Landslide of love for Fleetwood Mac
- Heritage Winnipeg hosting 10th annual Doors Open Winnipeg this weekend
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Vendor fired at Houston's Minute Maid Park after taking tray of snow cones into bathroom
- Quicker pickup of bulk garbage urged
- Privacy commissioner wants power to impose 8-figure fines against offenders
- Winnipeg Harvest issues plea for donations
- Fire crews kept busy battling south Winnipeg, Point Douglas fires
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Animals are animals, new ads say
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
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.