Manitoba ombudsman to probe government purchase of flood-fighting gear

Manitoba's ombudsman will wade into the political controversy related to flood equipment contracts, after questions were raised aboutwhether Infrastructure Minister Steve Ashton was in a conflict of interest.

Ombudsman Charlene Paquin announced on Tuesday that her office will look into"whether the processes undertaken by the Manitoba civil service, related to the funding and procurement of flood fighting equipment between July 2014 and January 2015, were consistent with relevant requirements set out in legislation and policy."

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Paquin said while the investigationstems from a previous complaint under the provincial Whistleblower Protection Act, certain issues continue to be raised that her office can investigate under the Ombudsman Act.

"I believe that given the administrative matters involved and the ongoing public interest in the issue, there is value in conducting an investigation to ensure appropriate processes were followed," she said in a news release.

"It is my intention through this investigation to bring clarity to the process and offer recommended improvements, if appropriate, that could help avoid similar concerns in the future."

The whistleblower claims that Ashton was in a possible conflict of interest by committing to give a $5-million untendered contract to Peter Ginakes, a Winnipeg distributor who has contributed to his electoral campaigns in previous years.

The accusation was that Ashton tried to push through the deal last year for International Flood Control Corp. of Calgary to supply Tiger Dams to the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council.

International Flood Control is represented in Manitoba by Ginakes.

PCs want Ashton to step down

The Progressive Conservatives have called on Ashton to step down, accusing him and the NDP government of giving preferential treatment.

A spokesperson forAshtonhas said that flood-fighting equipment purchases are not decisions made by ministers, and that the equipment purchased was based on needs identified at the time.

The Treasury Board balked at approving the deal and the contract has yet to be awarded.

But this week, the Tories accused deputy premier Eric Robinson of committing in August 2014 to pay for the $5-million contract for the Tiger Dams.

"The deputy premier wrote a letter last year, bypassing the Treasury Board, to commit the Manitoba government to paying $5 million through an untendered contract to a political donor who supplied the equipment," Pallister said in a news release Monday.

"This reckless commitment shows the NDP has no ability to identify and reduce its excessive waste threatening Manitoba's front-line services."

A lawyer for Ginakes sent a cease and desist letter to the Progressive Conservatives last week, calling on the party to retract and apologize for its comments about him.