Speaker clears health minister on stalled task force report allegation

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This article was published 13/03/2022 (1018 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Speaker Myrna Driedger has dismissed an allegation Health Minister Audrey Gordon deliberately misled the Manitoba legislative assembly on an unfulfilled promise to provide an update on the surgical and diagnostic task force.

In her ruling Monday, Driedger said NDP health critic Uzoma Asagwara would have to prove the minister deliberately misled the house and show there was a clear intent to purposely do so by knowingly making statements that would mislead.

On March 3, Gordon told the legislature the task force would be providing an update the following day.

On March 4, there was no update provided by government officials. Instead, a summary of the task force’s progress since its last update Jan. 19 was posted on a provincial government website. No new initiatives were announced.

Gordon said she was advised by government unveiling a detailed task force update would be in violation of the Election Financing Act rules limiting government communication during a byelection period.

The health minister said she wouldn’t be able to provide further information until after the March 22 byelection in Fort Whyte.

On March 7, Asagwara rose in the house to allege Gordon violated the rules and misled members. The NDP MLA asked the health minister to apologize to the house, and the “failure of the government to set a deadline to clear the backlog be moved to a committee for immediate consideration.”

The Speaker dismissed the matter Monday, citing previous rulings.

“A burden of proof exists that goes beyond speculation or conjecture but involves providing absolute proof… Including a statement of intent by the member involved that the stated goal is to intentionally mislead the house by knowingly putting incorrect information in the record,” Driedger said.

“Providing information showing that some facts are at variance is not the same as providing proof of intent to mislead.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca