11°c Overcast
16°c Isolated showers
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Go oboes Go! Jets tickets out, symphony OK
Province's new rules on freebies ban pro sports events, but encourage taking arts tickets
The new policy
Background
Manitoba Crown corporations have traditionally sponsored sports and culture in the province through grants and advertising. Typically, the Crowns receive complimentary tickets as part of a 'corporate sponsors package' and distribute these tickets as they see fit -- to charities, clients, employees, board members and ministers.
In many cases, ministers also receive complimentary tickets to events directly supported by the province, such as performances of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Past policy has allowed ministers, board members and government officials to accept complimentary tickets. In fact, attendance at events like the ballet, the symphony or Folklorama has been encouraged. For the most part, this policy will remain.
The return of NHL hockey, however, has prompted a revision to the policy. Tickets to Jets games have a higher face value and (due to perpetual sell-outs) are harder to obtain than tickets to almost any other event.
New policy
Ministers, MLAs and government officials shall not accept complimentary tickets to professional sports events.
Crown corporations will adopt similar policies with respect to their appointed board members. The Crowns Corporation Council will draft a common policy. If Crowns receive sports tickets in return for advertising support, they will be encouraged to distribute them through charities or community groups. In some cases Crown employees may also receive complimentary tickets, as part of a fairly administered employee recognition policy.
Ministers, MLAs, government officials and appointees may continue to accept complimentary tickets to other events, such as arts and cultural events, charity dinners and community fundraisers, when acting in an official capacity.
Source: Stan Struthers, minister of finance and minister responsible for the Crowns Corporation Council, which oversees the province's Crown corporations
Related Items
WANT to go to a Jets game? Stand in line and pay up like the rest of us.
That's the gist of the Selinger government's new policy stopping cabinet ministers, MLAs and government officials from going to a Winnipeg Jets game on the taxpayer's tab. It will also include all board members and executives of the province's Crown corporations.
"It's very clear that ministers, MLAs, Crown corporations, directors, cannot take tickets," Finance Minister Stan Struthers said, shortly after the complimentary-ticket policy was handed out to reporters following Thursday's question period at the legislature. The Free Press first asked for a copy of the policy on Monday.
"We want to have a policy in place that makes it so that Manitobans have every opportunity to get those tickets without ministers and directors of corporations getting in front," he said.
The new policy prohibits ministers, MLAs and government officials from accepting complimentary tickets to professional sports events, which includes Winnipeg Blue Bombers football and Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball games.
The Jets ticket affair has dogged the government since Monday, with the opposition demanding the lists of names of people who got free tickets made public. The province's Crown corporations obtained dozens of free Jets season tickets in exchange for their advertising and sponsorship support at the MTS Centre.
It took on greater urgency for the government to put the ticket affair behind them when they admitted three cabinet ministers and the former board chairman of Manitoba Hydro, Vic Schroeder, an NDP MLA in former premier Howard Pawley's government, obtained free tickets through the Crown corporation each represented.
Justice Minister Andrew Swan, Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh and Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton have since paid the Crowns for the tickets.
Tory MLA Ron Schuler said the policy is long overdue. He first raised the issue in March during a routine committee meeting when he asked acting president Roman Zubach how the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) distributed its 10 tickets.
Zubach told the committee the tickets were used for promotional purposes, "in other words, for our customers."
It's since been revealed 188 tickets went to the corporation's head office staff, another 62 went to executives and 66 went to board members.
"Clearly, common sense didn't prevail," Schuler said. "If the policy states that from here on in, Crown corporation tickets are off-limits to cabinet ministers, MLAs and political appointments, that's a good start. But my goodness, where was the common sense?"
Schuler said those at the MLCC who used the tickets should pay for them now, just like Swan, Mackintosh and Ashton did.
Struthers has said the new policy was needed because of the high demand for Jets tickets. The team sold out every game of its inaugural NHL season, and there's a waiting list of about 8,000 people for season tickets.
Struthers also said the government is preparing a full list of the number of season tickets each Crown agency has received and how the tickets have been distributed. Besides the MLCC, Manitoba Lotteries got 32 season tickets, Manitoba Public Insurance got eight season tickets and Manitoba Hydro got two, although it purchased an additional two season tickets.
Struthers said under the new policy more charities and community groups will get use of the tickets.
The policy still allows cabinet ministers, MLAs, board members and government officials to accept complimentary tickets to the ballet, the symphony or Folklorama.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 11, 2012 A5
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 21 articles for today)
Manitoba Tel to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group Accelero Capital
9:43 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Drug dealer sentenced to 3½ years in prison
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Some good news, some bad news from weatherman
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Charges laid against three in Canada Revenue Agency fraud investigation
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- 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
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- 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
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Quicker pickup of bulk garbage urged
- Privacy commissioner wants power to impose 8-figure fines against offenders
- Lake St. Martin reserve close to getting new home
- Winnipeg Harvest issues plea for donations
- 'I told them, "I think that guy downstairs is dead"': teen witness at murder trial
- Manitoba Tel to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group Accelero Capital
- Fire crews kept busy battling south Winnipeg, Point Douglas fires
- New owner for lumber stores
- 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
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- 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
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- '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
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.