Robinson caught up in fray
Tories say letter sealed Tiger Dam deal
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$0 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.75/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/07/2015 (3824 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A second NDP minister has become embroiled in a provincial government plan to buy $5 million of flood-fighting equipment.
Opposition Leader Brian Pallister said his Tories obtained an Aug. 7, 2014, letter written by Deputy Premier Eric Robinson to the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council that confirms the proposed purchase. Robinson is also the aboriginal and northern affairs minister.
Pallister said Robinson’s letter appears to contradict recent statements made by Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton.
“This provides further evidence that there was never an intention to go to the marketplace and shop for the best possible value for Manitobans,” Pallister said Monday.
The Tories says they obtained a copy of Robinson’s letter and other unspecified information from anonymous, disgruntled civil servants.
Pallister said Robinson’s letter mentions there was a conference call last Aug. 7 between government and tribal council officials to discuss the $5-million purchase.
The conference call and Robinson’s letter came days after an invoice for Tiger Dam and related equipment was prepared by Calgary-based International Flood Control Corp. and sent to the tribal council. The tribal council forwarded it to the province Aug. 5.
In his followup letter, Robinson said: “As discussed in the call, we would like to begin by reconfirming the provincial commitment of flood-control capital for the creation of an emergency operations centre and the announced commitment of $5 million for the purchase of equipment.”
Government spokeswoman Rachel Morgan said there was nothing in Robinson’s letter that indicates the province was committed to purchasing the equipment.
Ashton has said the tribal council’s invoice was sent to the government in error, but the Tories say Robinson’s letter contradicts that.
“Nowhere in (Robinson’s letter) does it say that there was some mistake with that invoice; that invoice wasn’t supposed to be issued by Tiger Dams,” Pallister said.
Ashton has been under fire for weeks over his alleged involvement in attempting to secure government approval of the $5-million deal without it going to tender. Ashton and Robinson made the funding commitment to the tribal council July 25, 2014, without first getting approval from cabinet or the Treasury Board.
The deal, and how it was handled by Premier Greg Selinger, is said to be one of the reasons five top ministers resigned last fall in protest of his leadership.
bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca
Pallister won’t say he’s sorry
OPPOSITION Leader Brian Pallister won’t apologize to Winnipeg restaurateur Peter Ginakes.
Pallister said Monday he stood by his June 24 comments there was a correlation between donations to the NDP and the awarding of flood-fighting equipment to a company that distributes Tiger Dams.
“My comments were directed at the NDP,” Pallister said.
Pallister also said he respects people who donated to political parties.
In a letter sent last week to the Conservative party, Ginakes’s lawyer, Dave Hill, said Ginakes and his sister, Phyllis, want Pallister to hold a news conference to retract his statements and to “apologize for the damages and embarrassment that they have suffered.”
In the two-page letter, Hill said Pallister’s comments damaged his clients’ reputations.
“My clients’ reputation in the Winnipeg community, including the Greek community of which they are ardent members, has been seriously damaged, and they have suffered considerable distress and embarrassment,” Hill’s letter said.
Timeline for deal to buy flood protection equipment:
July 18, 2014 – Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton and Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson hold conference call with the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council (IRTC) representatives. The call is referenced in a letter from Robinson to the IRTC dated Aug. 7, 2014.
July 25, 2014 – Ashton and Robinson announce $5 million for flood-fighting equipment for the IRTC. The announcement was made without treasury board discussion or cabinet approval. July 30, 2014 – The IRTC receives an invoice for the $5 million untendered contract for the Tiger Dam flood fighting equipment from International Flood Control Corp.
Aug. 5, 2014 – The invoice is signed as received by the IRTC and forwarded by then Peguis First Nation Chief Glenn Hudson to Ashton for payment. The invoice is cc’d to Robinson.
Aug. 7, 2014 – A conference call takes place between the government and the IRTC to discuss payment of $5 million for flood-fighting equipment. Robinson writes a letter to Hudson reconfirming the commitment to pay the $5 million for the purchase of equipment to assist in flood mitigation. Letter is cc’d to Ashton.
Sept. 3, 2014 – Ashton writes to Hudson, cc’ing Robinson. Ashton says he has asked the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization to work with the IRTC to finalize the details and provide the financial support towards the purchase of the “flood fighting inventory.”
Sept. 22, 2014 – Hudson writes to Doug McNeil, then the Emergency Measures Organization deputy minister. Hudson’s letter is cc’d to Robinson and Ashton. It says the IRTC board had passed a motion to support the purchase of flood-fighting equipment as previously committed by government.
Oct. 6, 2014 -The proposed purchase is only discussed at treasury board despite being announced in July. Ashton’s request for payment of the untendered contract for the flood fighting equipment is refused.
Oct. 8, 2014 – NDP cabinet meets to discuss treasury board recommendation to not allow payment of the untendered contract. Premier Greg Selinger sets aside treasury board recommendation not to proceed with an untendered contract.
Oct. 9, 2014 – Selinger directs to the Clerk of Executive Council Milton Sussman to make sure that the proposed purchase was put out for tender in an open, public and transparent way.
Nov. 3, 2014 – Five NDP minister resign in protest after Selinger refused to step down as premier. Three were treasury board members.
Early November 2014 – Ashton meets with newly appointed Minister of Finance Greg Dewar and Minister for Local Government Drew Caldwell to discuss funding the $5 million proposed purchase through the Building Manitoba Fund. Caldwell has said there was no meeting with the two ministers in his office on any issue.
Nov. 17, 2014 — Ombudsman opens an investigation into whistleblower complaint regarding the $5 million untendered contract. The whistleblower alleges Ashton was in a possible conflict of interest as the Manitoba distributor of Tiger Dams, as well as the subcontractor who produces the storage trailers for Tiger Dams, are both campaign contributors to Ashton. Ashton has denied any wrongdoing.
Dec. 19, 2014 — Province issues tender for $5 million in flood fighting equipment for flood prone First Nations. Three bids were received at the Jan. 28, 2015 deadline. A contract was supposed to be awarded by Feb. 6, 2015, but a recommendation has yet to go to cabinet for approval.
March 23, 2015 — The IRTC announce they had purchased $5 million in Tiger Dam flood fighting equipment using federal funding from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and Public Safety Canada.
Related Articles
Ombudsman to investigate decision to fund, procure flood-fighting equipment Ombudsman’s review of Tiger Dam needs teeth
Advertisement Advertise With Us