Winnipeg businessman demands apology from Manitoba PCs over Tiger Dam remarks

A lawyer forPeter Ginakes has sent a cease and desist letter to Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives, ordering theoppositionparty to retract and apologize forcomments suggesting the Winnipeg businessman is involved in a politicalcontroversyrelated to flood equipment contracts.

Ginakesand his sister, Phyllis Ginakes, have retained the services of lawyer Dave Hill, who wrote the letter to the PC Party of Manitoba on Thursday.

The cease and desist letter refers to two news releases the Tories issued in late June, accusingInfrastructure Minister SteveAshton of being in a conflict of interest overthe purchase of Tiger Dam equipment.

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A whistleblower had alleged that Ashton's department committed to giving a $5-million untendered contract to Peter Ginakes, who has contributed to Ashton's 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.

The cease and desist letter notes that in both news releases, the PCs used words and phrases like "scandal," "interference in the purchase of flood equipment," and "benefit a friend and political donor."

The June 24 news release said PC Leader Brian Pallister "noted there is damning evidence demonstrating a clear correlation between political donations and the purchases of Tiger Dams going as far back as 2009 between Ashton and Peter and Phyllis Ginakes."

'We need a public apology,' says lawyer

"These press releases, as a whole, in their natural and ordinary meaning and by innuendo, suggest severe wrongdoing by my clients including an attempt to corrupt the political system here in Manitoba, all of which is completely false," Hill's letter to the Tories states in part.

The couple's lawyer also argues that the words and phrases the Tories used "were meant, or were understood to mean, that my clients had provided political donations in exchange for purchase of certain flood equipment, all of which is completely false."

Hill told CBC News his clients want the releases taken off the PC Party of Manitoba's website. As well, the couple wants Pallister to issue a public apology at a news conference.

"I just know how proud the Ginakes family is of the contributions they've made to the community," Hill said Thursday afternoon.

"When people in the community read these things, it can't be good for their reputation and it causes people to wonder. That's why we need a public apology."

In the letter, Hill wrote that his clients' reputation in Winnipeg and the local Greek community "has been seriously damaged and they have suffered considerable distress and embarrassment."

The lawyer added that the words used by Pallister and the Tories "were not said or published on an occasion of privilege or qualified privilege."

A spokesperson for the Progressive Conservatives told CBC News they had not received the cease and desist letter as of Thursday afternoon.When they do, they'll review it with their legal counsel, the spokesperson added.