A Manitoba cabinet minister has been found to have inadvertently violated ethical rules, according to the province’s ethics commissioner.
The commissioner, Marguerite Trussler, released a report on Wednesday stating that Municipal Relations Minister Rochelle Squires had breached the Conflict of Interest Act by accepting a gift from a lobbyist.
The gift in question was a ticket to a Winnipeg Jets hockey game, which Squires received from a registered lobbyist in December 2019. The commissioner found that Squires had not disclosed the gift within the required 30-day period, and therefore had violated the act.
In her report, Trussler noted that Squires had not intentionally violated the rules and had cooperated fully with the investigation. She also stated that Squires had taken steps to rectify the situation by reimbursing the lobbyist for the cost of the ticket.
Squires released a statement in response to the report, acknowledging her mistake and apologizing for any unintentional breach of the rules. She also stated that she takes her ethical obligations seriously and will ensure that she is in full compliance in the future.
Premier Brian Pallister also commented on the report, stating that he has full confidence in Squires and that she has taken responsibility for her actions.
This is not the first time a Manitoba cabinet minister has been found to have violated ethical rules. In 2019, former finance minister Cameron Friesen was found to have breached the Conflict of Interest Act by accepting a gift from a lobbyist.
The Conflict of Interest Act is in place to ensure that government officials act with integrity and avoid any conflicts of interest. It is important for elected officials to adhere to these rules in order to maintain public trust and confidence in the government.
The ethics commissioner’s report serves as a reminder to all government officials to be diligent in their ethical obligations and to promptly disclose any gifts or benefits received from lobbyists.
