Manitoba premier knew for many months that MLA lied

Manitoba Premier GregSelingerbrokehis silenceon a controversy involving a former cabinet minister accused oflying to the legislature.

Selingersaid Wednesday he knew early on that ChristineMelnickhad likelymisled the chamber in the spring of 2012, but he didnot go publicwith the knowledge.

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Selinger said he wanted to let the provincial ombudsman complete an investigation, and did not know at the time the probe would take 18 months.

The ombudsman revealed last week that Melnick ordered a senior bureaucrat to invite immigrants and support workers to the legislature for a debate in which she criticized the federal government.

The finding contradicts what Melnick had told the legislature, and the ombudsman says the action created the perception of a partisan civil service.

The Opposition Tories are demanding an inquiry, saying it's an offence under provincial law to lie in the legislature.

Leader Brian Pallister said Selinger should have acted when he knew what Melnick had done.

"Why didn't he shuffle her out at the time?" he said. "There was wrongdoing, then act on it. Don't wait for 18 months and act like you're a hero. You're not. The reality is, this is a deception. It was a lie. And the premier repeated the same lie."

Selinger said the ombudsman's probe was one factor in a cabinet shuffle that saw Melnick removed from cabinet in October of this year.

A government spokesperson said Melnick will apologize when the house resumes sitting in the new year.

"Unfortunately the review took much longer than expected," he said. "The review is now complete and the former minister has apologized. She is no longer a member of cabinet and she will also be correcting the record in the house when it resumes."

Shannon Sampert, associate professor of political science at the University of Winnipeg, said the premier could have avoided the controversy if he had handled the matter differently.

"It doesn't become a big deal unless you act like it's something that you want to cover up," she said. "And it may not be something that he's trying to cover up. The problem is, he acts like he's covering something up."

Tongue in cheek, Sampert said Selinger should take his cue from Toronto Mayor Rob Ford as an example of how not to do things.

She said politicians should be transparent and admit mistakes when they happen, otherwise, it gives the opposition something to talk about in the media.