Income, assets, gifts, mortgages: MLA disclosure statements go online

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This article was published 19/01/2024 (642 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For the first time, disclosure statements by members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba are available for the public to view online.

The disclosures posted Friday include Premier Wab Kinew’s book business, a civil lawsuit against Progressive Conservative MLA Obby Khan, and which companies MLAs have interests in that are valued at more than $5,000.

The Office of the Ethics Commissioner website shows MLA sources of income (including that of spouses), assets over $5,000 (not including home or cottage) and — for the first time — liabilities, as well as any legal proceedings brought against them.

The online disclosures are the result of new Tory-era legislation — Conflict of Interest (Members and Ministers) Act — that took effect after the Oct. 3 election.

Previously, members of the public who wanted to see MLA disclosure statements would have had to go in person to the Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly and ask to view the paper documents — which were not available electronically and not allowed to be photocopied.

The website now allows the search of three types of statements: MLA disclosures; gifts valued at $250 or more; and private, non-commercial air travel.

So far, no MLAs have disclosed accepting any flights on private planes, ethics commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor said.

(Such travel is prohibited, unless it is on aircraft owned or leased by the Crown and connected with the performance of official duties. Exceptions are allowed with approval from the ethics commissioner before accepting such travel.)

Kinew disclosed more than a dozen gifts since winning the Oct. 3 election (including many star blankets and art pieces), as well as information about his business, Grey Cloud Media Inc.

The Fort Rouge MLA disclosed he is the director and sole owner of the private corporation set up before becoming premier to collect royalties on books he has authored.

Under the act, engaging in employment or the practice of a profession, managing or carrying on a business and holding certain offices or directorships (as well as holding or trading in stocks not on a recognized stock exchange and holding or trading in futures or commodities for speculative purposes), requires commissioner approval.

When asked at an unrelated event Friday, Kinew said Schnoor set out parameters with regard to publishing and promoting his books while in office: “Here’s what you can do, what you can’t do.”

A Nov. 2 letter provided by the premier’s office says Kinew mustn’t make a decision or participate in making a decision that would materially and specifically affect the book publishing industry or use his position to seek to influence such a decision.

He must advise the appropriate staff, including the clerk of the executive council, that such matters are not for him to decide or consider, the letter says.

Schnoor noted Kinew had previously submitted to his publisher three new books, as well as contributions to two anthologies.

“At some point in the future, your publisher will publish them and make them available to the public for purchase. The decision on when this takes place is the publisher’s; you will play no role in this decision,” the ethics commissioner wrote.

While in office, Kinew is not to promote the sale of his books and must ask his publisher not to identify him as premier in any publication or promotional materials.

The letter says Kinew mustn’t submit anything new for publication while he is premier, unless it’s related to his official duties.

The new ethics rules also require MLAs to list any debts exceeding $5,000 that they or their spouse or dependants owe that are secured by a mortgage (except on a principal residence or property used mainly for recreation, such as a summer cottage).

Kinew disclosed his spouse, Dr. Lisa Monkman, owns a house in Dauphin with an RBC mortgage on it. He said Friday it is not a rental property, and Monkman lived in it when they first started dating.

MLAs must also disclose any legal proceedings brought against them.

Khan (Fort Whyte) identified Jones & Company Wine Merchants and its “business-related” civil suit. In his disclosure statement, the Tory MLA lists Tina Jones, president of the wine business, as a business partner.

In 2022, Jones & Company sued Khan and Green Carrot Juice Co., alleging the latter failed to repay the wine company more than $560,000 in financial support.

Khan (as main shareholder of Green Carrot) submitted a statement of defence that year, calling the claims “rife with false and reckless allegations.”

On Friday, Khan declined to comment on the status of the lawsuit. Jones did not respond to a request for comment.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca