Latest news with #ConflictofInterest(MembersandMinisters)Act
Winnipeg Free Press
17-07-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tory claims against cabinet minister Moroz baseless, ethics commissioner rules
Cabinet Minister Mike Moroz did not violate conflict of interest laws in his personal handling of Telus shares, the ethics commissioner has ruled. The office of Jeffrey Schnoor released the findings Wednesday of its recent probe into the NDP MLA for River Heights, who is minister for innovation and new technology. The Tories had accused Moroz of wrongdoing for owning shares in Telus and said he used confidential information about a tragic March 22-24 service outage to inform his decision to sell them. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Innovation and New Technology Minister Mike Moroz Moroz issued a statement thanking the commissioner for his prompt investigation that 'accurately reflects that I am innocent of the PC's harmful allegations.' 'I look forward to being able to return to focusing on the important matters in my portfolio, including holding the telecom companies accountable for ensuring that Manitobans have timely access to 911 services when they need it,' the minister said. MLAs are not prohibited from buying into a publicly traded corporation. Schnoor pointed that out in his 13-page report, as well as the fact that Telus is regulated by the federal government. 'There is no evidence that Minister Moroz had any confidential information that was not available to the public,' he wrote, referencing the MLA's decision to sell 500 shares in Telus on May 8. The commissioner noted that Moroz received $10,391.25, which translated into a loss of $1,591.75, after the transaction and followed proper disclosure protocols. He first invested in Telus in April 2021, before he was an MLA. Dean Switzer, a 55-year-old from the Fisher Branch area, died of a heart attack on March 23 while his loved ones repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to call 911 on their cellphones. Two months later, following debate on the subject in the legislature and learning that Moroz had cut his financial ties to Telus, PC MLA Konrad Narth requested an ethics investigation. Narth alleged his colleague should not have owned shares in Telus in the first place and leveraged his position of power for his own financial interests. Schnoor dismissed all of Narth's allegations involving sections two, three and four of the Conflict of Interest (Members and Ministers) Act. His report deemed Moroz's interest in Telus as 'very small' in the context of the company's overall valuation. 'Moroz's interest in Telus was so remote and insignificant that it cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to have influenced him,' the ethics commissioner wrote. When reached by phone Wednesday, Narth said he accepted the commissioner's findings, but questions remained unanswered. 'If there was no red flag here, why would you be selling at a loss?' he said, noting that he has not received clarity about why Moroz decided to sell his shares. Narth said he hopes this is a learning opportunity for the minister and NDP caucus. 'The public's ruling of politicians' integrity is more important than the commissioner's ruling, in my opinion,' he said. Schnoor's detailed timeline indicates Moroz learned about the March 23 fatality from a journalist on April 3. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. The day after an article was published, Moroz wrote to the president of Telus to express concerns on behalf of Manitoba and he received a reply two days later on April 11. Aside from that exchange, the minister's direct correspondence with Telus was limited to an in-person meeting on May 15 — multiple days after he sold his shares, Schnoor found. The ethics commissioner repeatedly noted that publicly available information about the outage was posted on the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission website. Telus has revealed its roughly 40-hour outage, which began around 8:15 p.m. on March 22, affected 117 calls made by 59 individual Manitobans. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
19-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Manitoba premier didn't breach conflict of interest with publication of children's book: report
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew did not breach the Conflict of Interest Act by publishing a children's book, Manitoba ethics commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor says. Schnoor released an 18-page report on his findings on Wednesday. He launched the investigation after Fort Garry MLA Mark Wasyliw requested on Dec. 2 that he conduct an inquiry into Kinew's writing and publishing activity. He alleged the book An Anishinaabe Christmas, written by Kinew and published on Oct. 8, 2024, breached the Conflict of Interest (Members and Ministers) Act. After Kinew was sworn in on Oct. 18, 2023, he met with Schnoor to discuss his work as an author and his ownership of Grey Cloud Media Inc., the report says. "Upon consideration, I determined that it was appropriate to allow these activities, subject to conditions," Schnoor said. The ethics commissioner informed Kinew in a letter dated Nov. 2, 2023, that he must not promote the sale of his books and must ask the publisher to refrain from identifying him as the premier of Manitoba on any of the books and promotional materials. Kinew was also required not to submit anything else for publication in his role as premier unless it is related to his official powers, duties or functions, Schnoor said. The report said Kinew informed the ethics commissioner that before becoming the premier, he submitted three books and contributions to two anthologies through Grey Cloud Media Inc., and these works would be published at some point in the future. But it is up to the publisher on when these works will be published, and Kinew must play no role in this decision, the report said. Kinew was permitted to receive royalties from the sale of his books, monitor the receipt of the royalties and carry out regular management functions of Grey Cloud Media Inc. such as distributing the income and filing tax returns, the report said. Wasyliw alleged Kinew published the book with Penguin Random House and submitted new work for publication contrary to the direction from the ethics commissioner, and that he engaged in promotion for his works while in office, which the MLA said violated the act. Sections 11 and 12 of the act restrict which activities cabinet ministers can engage in, which include not being able to have shares in a private corporation or be employed, have a business or have an office or directorship elsewhere, according to the report. "These restrictions apply if the activity might conflict or be seen to conflict with the minister's official duties," Schnoor said. Exceptions can be applied if the material facts have been disclosed to the ethics commissioner and the commissioner is satisfied that the activity will not create a conflict between the minister or premier's private interests and their official powers, duties or functions. Schnoor noted in his report that "Wasyliw has provided no factual basis for most of his allegations," except for one: his concern over the children's book being published in October 2024, after Schnoor had provided direction to Kinew in November 2023.
