Manitoba cabinet minister 'inadvertently' violated rules: ethics commissioner

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew looks on as Ian Bushie, Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations, and Minister of Indigenous Economic Development is sworn-in by Lt. Gov. Anita Neville at a Premier and cabinet swearing-in ceremony in Winnipeg, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Manitoba's ethics commissioner has found a NDP cabinet minister was in the wrong when he failed to disclose he had a business contract with the government, but is ultimately not recommending a penalty. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)

WINNIPEG — Manitoba's ethics commissioner has found an NDP cabinet minister was in the wrong for failing to disclose a business contract with the government but is not recommending a penalty.

Commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor says Ian Bushie, the minister of municipal and northern relations, previously had a contract with the government through a gas bar and convenience store he runs on the Hollow Water First Nation on the east side of Lake Winnipeg.

When Bushie took office after last year's provincial election, the contract was already in place and had been permitted.

Schnoor says when the contract was renewed earlier this year, Bushie contravened the Conflict of Interest Act by failing to report it with the province and not including it in his disclosure statement.

But the commissioner found Bushie's contraventions were inadvertent.

"The contraventions were trivial ... there is no evidence of any bad faith or of an attempt to wilfully hide the agreement," Schnoor said in his report released Thursday.

Bushie told reporters he accepts the commissioner's findings and accepts full responsibility.

"It was an error (in) judgment on my part, but I was wrong. I'm committed to fixing this and being accountable to all Manitobans and the confidence the public has in their elected representatives," he told reporters.

Bushie said he has decided to sell his business to avoid any further conflicts or the perception of wrongdoing.

"Selling my business shows my unequivocal commitment to my role on this team. It is important that I show that I am taking full responsibility for what has happened here, and I want to be able to assure Manitobans that they have trust in government across all of our caucus."

Bushie, the sole proprietor of Grandpa George's, has owned the family-run business for the past three decades.

The business has had an agreement with the government since at least 2012, with the most recent renewal in April.

The contract is to supply groceries and goods for wildfire crews and has been renewed consistently since it was first signed, the report says.

The agreement was cancelled in June when the Opposition Progressive Conservatives filed a complaint.

Bushie said the store received less than $200 this year before the contract was cancelled. His office has said the store was paid $1,872 in the fiscal year that ended in March.

The report says the government did not communicate the contract renewal to Bushie, who was not involved in the day-to-day management of his business.

Bushie said he didn't disclose the contract because he misunderstood the rules. All Manitoba politicians are required to fill out disclosure statements to show any business interests and holdings.

Bushie called it a learning experience.

Tory Leader Wayne Ewasko thanked the commissioner for the ruling. He said his caucus will ensure its members are well versed in the findings and recommendations.

   This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.