Tory event featuring ex-MP broke legislature rules

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/06/2023 (1040 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A reception for young Tories at the Manitoba legislature, which was headlined by the party’s election campaign co-chair Candice Bergen, ran afoul of rules for private events hosted in the building.

Usage guidelines for the seat of government are being reviewed after Bergen delivered a speech to a group of party supporters and MLAs in the Golden Boy Room on May 24.

The event was approved as proposed and initially in compliance with the guidelines, executive council clerk Kathryn Gerrard wrote in a letter to NDP finance critic Adrien Sala on June 6.

“However, certain elements of the event were modified by the event host after receiving approval to use the facility,” Gerrard said. “These modifications were not in compliance with the booking application guideline and were not communicated to government staff managing event requests.”

The NDP sent a formal complaint to the clerk about the event in which they alleged Premier Heather Stefanson and Bergen both made comments about attendees getting involved in the party’s campaign.

Proposed events are reviewed to ensure compliance with guidelines, which prohibit election campaigning and the solicitation of donations, and to ensure areas of the building under government management are not used for partisan purposes.

Neither Gerrard’s office nor the Manitoba government would say which elements of the event were non-compliant, citing privacy considerations.

In her letter, Gerrard said the event host was notified about the government’s findings and corrective actions had been completed, without providing specifics.

“This event and others in recent months have highlighted the need to review the booking application guideline to ensure the Manitoba Legislative Building and public spaces within the building are not used for partisan purposes,” Gerrard wrote.

“This review is underway and revised guidelines will be published in the coming months.”

PC caucus director Keith Stewart said the caucus facilitated the booking on behalf of the party.

“It is important to note the event application was submitted based on our prior understanding of the guidelines, and was approved in advance by independent public officials,” Stewart wrote in a statement Friday.

“Following the event, we were advised that the booking was not in compliance with the guidelines. We appreciate the clarification and will work to ensure the guidelines are adhered by all parties moving forward.”

At the event, Bergen addressed more than two dozen attendees and lamented the entitlement and disengagement of young people, some of whom she described as having been brainwashed by the education system. A 78-second recording of her speech was released by the Manitoba NDP.

Bergen also praised the young Tory supporters and thanked them for being involved in politics.

“Especially in this day and age, when so many young people are either disengaged, they’re entitled, they think they don’t need to do anything, they think whatever they will do won’t matter anyway,” Bergen told the crowd, which included at least a half-dozen Tory MLAs.

“Some of you are nodding your head. Many — not you — but many young people have been brainwashed, frankly, whether it’s in university or even as children at school,” she said. “It’s a challenge.”

After the snippet was leaked, the veteran conservative politician and former member of Parliament for Portage-Lisgar said the recording didn’t include the admiration she had shared for all young people in politics regardless of their political affiliation.

Deputy premier Cliff Cullen also praised the attendees for their commitment to community and interest in politics and governing during question period last month.

Stefanson had said she was not in the room when her campaign co-chair made the remarks. For that reason, she said she could not comment on them.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca