Provincial PCs broke election promotion rule last year: Manitoba byelection commissioner
Posted July 7, 2023 3:30 pm.
Manitoba’s elections commissioner says the Provincial Conservatives broke an election promotion rule when they invited reporters to an event with Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson last year.
Stefanson was part of the announcement by WestJet in March of 2022. Her press secretary invited media outlets to the event.
During that press conference, a byelection campaign was underway in Fort Whyte – in which Tory MLA Obby Khan eventually prevailed.
Elections commissioner Bill Bowles said the secretary’s actions were a breach on government promotion and advertising during the election period because the premier’s office was using government resources.
University of Manitoba political science professor, Christopher Adams, says he will be watching the issue closely as the October provincial election approaches.
“The government is doing an extensive amount of advertising, of course it is before the 60-day blackout period but the fact of this decision being released just prior to the blackout period means that the people in the government need to be sensitive.”
The decision by Bowles comes on the heels of the province announcing it would not be supporting a landfill search for the remains of two Indigenous women. Winnipeg police believe their remains were dumped in the Prairie Green Landfill north of Winnipeg.
In recent polling Premier Stefanson has the lowest approval rating among all Canadian premiers.
Adams says the PCs have their backs against the wall leading up to the election.
“I’ve never seen so much spending by the government as it has over the last 12 months. Looking at that, the PCs, going into the election, will be looking to defend themselves and to try to be re-elected,” he said.
Malcolm Bird, a political science professor from the University of Winnipeg, adds that the decision made by the commissioner raises the important issue of governments using resources for partisan purposes, while still keeping the public informed.
“On one hand, they have to provide information and keep the public addressed on what they are up to and what they are doing. Again, at the same time, they need to respect the importance of the electoral process and they’re inherent advantage of being in power and having considerable resources at their disposal.”
Bird says issues like this will not hurt the PCs because Manitoba families are more focused on pressing issues leading into the election.
“I think in the grand scheme of things, it’s a relatively minor issue.”
“(Voters are focused on) looking after their families, crime, and healthcare. Very rudimentary, basic things that have a real impact on people’s lives and the lives of their family members and children.”
Recent polling shows the PCs and NDP are neck-and-neck heading into the provincial election, with the NDP leading in Winnipeg.
