Manitoba PC MLA who travelled through Western Canada over holidays disciplined, says premier

The MLA for Manitoba's Radisson constituency has been punished for travelling interprovincially with his family over the holiday season, Premier Brian Pallistersaid Tuesday.

Progressive Conservative MLA JamesTeitsmawas reappointed to the provincial Treasury Board and another legislature committee earlier this month, but Pallister has since revoked the latterappointment.

"An additional committee appointment (in conjunction with the cabinet shuffle) was revoked once the premier was made aware of MLATeitsma's non-essential, out-of-province travel," thespokesperson for the premier's office confirmed via email.

Teitsma travelled through Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia with household members from Dec. 21-30, despite the Pallister government urging Manitobans to stay home during the holidays.

He was the only Progressive ConservativeMLA to travel out-of-province, according to the party.

The NDPsaid none of its MLAs left Manitoba.

Initially, Pallister was "not pleased" by Teitsma's decision, but said no one from his party would be punished for travelling during the holidays.

"His decision to leave the province isn't something I support, but he's not a cabinet member and I'm not going to be taking any disciplinary actions against him," Pallister said during aJan. 5 news conference.

"I can't remove him from a cabinet he's not a member of."

On Tuesday, during a news conference where he announced upcoming travel restrictions, Pallister told reporters that Teitsma in fact has been disciplined.

"Yes, he has faced disciplinary action," he said when asked why Teitsmahadn't been disciplined.

Pallister also alleged thatthree NDP MLAs havealso been disciplined for travelling.

Opposition NDP Leader Wab Kinewlater told reporters during a scrum that Pallister wasn't being truthful,about both the threeNDP MLAsand Teitsma's discipline.

"When it comes to Mr. Teitsma, here is what the facts show:not only was he not disciplined by Mr. Pallister, but Mr. Pallister actually reappointed him on the same day that they did their cabinet shuffle. He reappointed Mr. Teitsmato one of the most powerful cabinet committees in the entire government," said Kinew.

Teitsmakept his position on the Manitoba Treasury Board.

"It seems to me that there should be some accountability from Mr. Pallister onto Mr. Teitsma, particularly on a day where you are asking Manitobans to make a greater sacrifice around travel restrictions," said Kinew, adding that he wants to see Teitsma removed from the Treasury Board.