WINNIPEG – Manitoba politicians will vote on recommended fines for three former cabinet members during the fall legislature sitting that begins today.
Among the items up for debate is a report by the ethics commissioner that said former premier Heather Stefanson and two of her cabinet ministers violated the province’s conflict-of-interest law.
The report found the three unsuccessfully tried to push through approval of a silica sand mining project after the Tories lost the October 2023 election, before the new NDP government could be sworn in.
It recommended an $18,000 fine for Stefanson, and smaller amounts for former deputy premier Cliff Cullen and Jeff Wharton, who was economic development minister.
Stefanson has said she was acting in the public interest and Wharton has said he never intended to break any rules.
Several bills are expected to be debated in the coming weeks, including one to extend the amount of time highly intoxicated people can be detained beyond the current 24 hours.
Premier Wab Kinew has said extra time is needed to deal with people on methamphetamines, which have a longer-lasting effect than alcohol and other drugs.
Politicians will also vote on some bills left over from the spring sitting.
One will implement tax measures announced in the budget, including a change to personal income taxes that will no longer raise tax brackets in line with inflation.
Another bill would lower political donation limits and require political parties to have a code of conduct for election advertising.
The Opposition Progressive Conservatives say the bill should be changed because it allows political parties to investigate themselves instead of answering to someone else.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2025.
