Manitoba Tories used legislature room for campaign: elections commissioner

Advertisement

Advertise with us

WINNIPEG - Manitoba's election commissioner says the Progressive Conservatives didn't follow provincial laws when they campaigned at the legislature building ahead of the 2023 provincial election. 

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Monthly Digital Subscription

$1 per week for 24 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

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Monthly Digital Subscription

$4.99/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 $19.95 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*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

No thanks

*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.

WINNIPEG – Manitoba’s election commissioner says the Progressive Conservatives didn’t follow provincial laws when they campaigned at the legislature building ahead of the 2023 provincial election. 

A former provincial secretary with the now-governing NDP filed a complaint alleging that the Tory caucus used a room in the legislature for a partisan political event. 

The decision says government workers were told the event was to engage with Manitoba students and that reasonable steps were made to ensure no campaign activity would take place.

The exterior of the Manitoba Legislature is seen in Winnipeg, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The exterior of the Manitoba Legislature is seen in Winnipeg, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Commissioner Bill Bowles says the co-chair and campaign director of the Tories election campaign made a presentation at the event, which included partisan remarks about the upcoming vote and an invitation to become involved.

The commissioner recommended that the PC party work with government staff to come up with a price on renting the room that could be paid into a consolidated fund. 

A spokesperson for the party says it’s reviewing the ruling.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2026.

Report Error Submit a Tip

Uncategorized

LOAD MORE