Premier mum on mystery company, but says he, family not in conflict

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This article was published 10/05/2017 (2689 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pallister Investments 22 Ltd. has no dealings with government, and the premier and members of his family are not in a conflict of interest, Brian Pallister said Thursday.

“It does no business with government,” he told reporters.

But the premier said there is no reason for him to tell anyone what kind of company it is, what it does or what benefit he derives from it, if any. His office described it as a holding company and says he declared it in May 2016.

Pallister said he discussed the company when he met with Manitoba’s conflict of interest commissioner a year ago to discuss his properties and holdings. Based on that, Pallister won’t provide details on the company: “No, because that’s not what the conflict of interest commissioner intends us to do,” Pallister said.

In what Pallister called “an inquisition” Wednesday during the premier’s estimates, New Democrat Andrew Swan demanded to know what the company does, whether it owns property and whether it conducts any business with the government or pays Pallister any compensation or benefit. Swan says the company was first mentioned on disclosure forms in November.

“Frankly, it’s none of your business,” was the premier’s response.

Thursday, the two clashed over the issue again in question period, and they went at each other again over how and with whom Pallister communicates from his vacation home in Costa Rica.

David McLaughlin, Pallister’s director of communications and stakeholder relations, said Thursday morning the premier included the company a year ago when disclosing his assets to the house. He did not provide any details about the company at that time.

Later, during question period, Swan challenged Pallister over his claim Wednesday he used the same government protocols in communicating while on vacation in Costa Rica, as did previous NDP premiers.

“No such protocol exists,” Swan told the house.

Retorted Pallister: “The member has put on the record that there were no protocols whatsoever for security.”

“What exactly does this premier have to hide?” Swan asked.

“I like the member from Minto (Swan) very much, but I don’t consider him to be an expert on ethics in any way, shape or form,” Pallister replied.

Speaking later to reporters, Pallister wouldn’t back up his claim that he took less vacation time than NDP premiers.

“It’s a great question to ask Mr. (Greg) Selinger, and Mr. (Gary) Doer, too,” he said.

Pallister conceded it is difficult to use access to information laws to track how and with whom he communicates while in Costa Rica if he’s not using government devices.

“I go overboard trying to make sure we have security. To ensure that information never gets into anyone else’s hands is a big part of who I am,” he said.

Conflict and confusion reigned Thursday over a scheduled hearing into the premier’s estimates, officially called the committee of supply’s meeting on the executive council.

McLaughlin said the Thursday session of the premier’s estimates hearings was set aside in order to debate bills in the house as the NDP had requested; Monday’s estimates were similarly set aside. Not so, said the NDP, demanding the meeting go ahead as scheduled.

It finally went ahead, but not with Pallister. Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler moved into the chair normally occupied by the premier.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca