WINNIPEG –

Manitoba’s ethics commissioner says a politician violated the province’s conflict law, but it was unintentional and should not be penalized.

The ruling NDP caucus filed a complaint in August against Greg Nesbitt, a member of the Progressive Conservative opposition who represents the Riding Mountain electoral district.

The NDP caucus chair said Nesbitt is a shareholder in a company tied to a hotel and conference center in the town of Russell that has a contract with the provincial government.

Nesbitt’s shares in the company are listed in mandatory disclosure statements filed with the ethics commissioner, but the contract is not.

Nesbitt said he was unaware of the contract and said he sold his shares in the hotel company in 2018 under an 11-year buyout that is not yet complete.

Ethics Commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor ruled that Nesbitt has an indirect interest in the company through another company, but has no voting stock or control over its operations.

“It is obvious that Mr. Nesbitt’s contraventions occurred as a result of inadvertence,” Schnoor wrote in his report released Tuesday.

“He was unaware of the existence of the contract and it would be unreasonable to impose a sanction on him under the circumstances.”

Despite his lack of knowledge, Nesbitt violated the province’s conflict of interest law, Schnoor wrote.

“The law does not provide an exception for a situation where a member is not aware of a contract with the Government of Manitoba. Therefore, I must conclude that Mr. Nesbitt contravened the law by failing to disclose the contract that Russell Inns Ltd . had with the Government of Manitoba.”

The law allows politicians to request an exemption from the requirement that they not own a stake in a corporation that benefits from a government contract. Nesbitt requested such a waiver and was approved, according to Schnoor’s report.

“I have also advised Mr. Nesbitt that, if possible, he should take steps to have the Russell Inns group of companies inform him if any of them enter into contracts with the Government of Manitoba in the future,” Schnoor wrote.

The charge against Nesbitt was the latest battle over disclosure statements that all members of the Manitoba legislature must file with the commissioner.

In June, Nesbitt accused NDP cabinet minister Ian Bushie of hiding the fact that he had a contract with the provincial government that had recently been renewed. Bushie was the sole owner of a gas station and convenience store that was listed in April as having received a renewed provincial contract.

The ethics commissioner ruled in September that Bushie violated the law, but it was involuntary and no sanction was necessary. As with Tuesday’s ruling, the ethics commissioner said Bushie was not involved in daily operations and was unaware of the contract.

Bushie told reporters he would sell his business to avoid further conflict or the perception of wrongdoing.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.