Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative (PC) caucus is calling on the province’s ethics commissioner to investigate NDP Premier Wab Kinew over his use of privately chartered flights to attend the 2023 and 2024 Grey Cup games.
In a formal request submitted to Ethics Commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor, the PCs allege the premier accepted the flights without obtaining prior approval or publicly disclosing the travel, requirements set out in Manitoba’s Conflict of Interest Act.
“The rules are clear: the premier and his ministers are prohibited from accepting private air travel without prior approval and public disclosure,” said Greg Nesbitt, MLA for Riding Mountain and chair of the PC caucus. “There is no indication Premier Kinew followed these basic legal requirements.”
The controversy over Kinew’s travel habits has been mounting. In September 2024, he reportedly expensed over $1,500 in travel costs to Manitoba taxpayers while campaigning for the BC NDP during their provincial election.
“Most Manitobans in their wildest dreams would never be offered a private jet, let alone be able to afford one, to attend an event like the Grey Cup,” said Official Opposition Leader Wayne Ewasko. “Premier Kinew isn’t above the rules. He needs to respect the law and he needs to respect taxpayers.”
The premier’s office has not yet commented on the PC caucus’s request or the allegations related to the Grey Cup flights.
The Ethics Commissioner has not indicated whether an investigation will proceed.
