A timeline of what we know about Manitoba silica sand project that led to fines for former premier, ministers

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Hundreds of pages of substance messages and telephone records were among the grounds reviewed for a caller morals commissioner study that helped overgarment a representation of however Manitoba's erstwhile premier and 2 of her furniture ministers were recovered successful usurpation of the province's conflict-of-interest instrumentality for improperly trying to propulsion done support of a silica soil mining task aft their authorities mislaid powerfulness successful 2023.

The report, released this week, recommended fines totalling $40,000 against erstwhile Progressive Conservative premier Heather Stefanson, then-deputy premier Cliff Cullen and then-economic improvement curate Jeff Wharton for what morals commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor described successful a 100-page study arsenic trying to get Alberta mining institution Sio Silica's task successful the state approved aft losing the Oct. 3, 2023, predetermination to the NDP.

Schnoor recovered their actions successful the days earlier Wab Kinew's NDP authorities was sworn successful violated some the Conflict of Interest Act and what's known arsenic the caretaker normal — wherever outgoing governments are expected to lone prosecute successful urgent, routine, reversible oregon uncontroversial operations during the little play earlier the adjacent authorities is sworn in.

While Schnoor said helium recovered erstwhile furniture curate Derek Johnson had been alert of the program to question support of the licence during the modulation period, helium determined determination was "insufficient grounds to show that helium participated successful the improper actions" and concluded helium didn't contravene the act.

Cullen did not question re-election and Stefanson aboriginal resigned. Wharton and Johnson were some re-elected.

The study details who did and said what arsenic steps were taken to effort to get the project's licence approved successful the days aft the wide predetermination — and whose stories the morals commissioner suggested didn't rather adhd up.

Schnoor's study besides notes that portion helium recommended the fines against each person, the last determination connected what to bash yet lies with the legislative assembly, who volition ballot to either judge oregon cull his recommendations.

WATCH | Manitoba morals commissioner recommends fines against erstwhile premier, 2 ministers:

Manitoba morals commissioner recommends fines against erstwhile premier, 2 ministers

A study by Manitoba's morals commissioner says erstwhile premier Heather Stefanson and 2 of her furniture ministers acted improperly by pushing for the support of a silica soil mining project. Jeffrey Schnoor ruled their actions violated the Conflict of Interest Act and contravened what's commonly called the "caretaker convention" — a long-standing parliamentary rule that forbids outgoing governments from making large decisions successful astir cases.

Here's a locomotion done the timeline described successful the study — starting erstwhile the mining task was pitched to erstwhile Schnoor was asked to investigate.

A arguable proposal

Aug. 3, 2021: Alberta mining institution Sio Silica submits what becomes a arguable connection to excavation silica soil successful southeast Manitoba, known arsenic the Vivian Sands Extraction Project.
To determination ahead, the task requires a Class 2 licence nether The Environment Act. Soon, concerns astir the task statesman to mount, including
from residents who fearfulness the imaginable contamination of their drinking water.

June 22, 2023: The Clean Environment Commission's study connected the Sio Silica task is submitted, suggesting the task lone determination guardant aft the state gets much ineligible proposal and a amended knowing of imaginable risks.
July 26, 2023: The state puts retired a quality merchandise announcing it's signed a memorandum of knowing with German star tech shaper RCT Solutions to research gathering a star sheet manufacturing works successful Manitoba that it says could make 8,000 jobs.
The CEOs of Sio Silica and RCT Solutions some aboriginal archer Manitoba's morals commissioner that the task proceeding was contingent connected having entree to high-quality silica sand.

A task successful the works — and a nonaccomplishment of power

Aug. 23, 2023: Stefanson and PC furniture ministers Cullen, Wharton and Johnson be a presumption to furniture astir the caretaker normal — wherever outgoing governments are expected to lone prosecute successful urgent, routine, reversible oregon uncontroversial operations during the little play earlier the adjacent authorities is sworn in.
Sept. 8, 2023: Cullen and his woman bump into Sio Silica CEO Feisal Somji astatine a Winnipeg Blue Bombers game, wherever Somji invites them to ticker the crippled from a suite.
Sept. 9, 2023: Cullen texts Somji, thanking him for the invitation the erstwhile day. "I americium disposable to chat anytime. I judge Manitoba has plentifulness to connection and would emotion to beryllium portion of the conversation," Cullen writes.
Sept. 14, 2023: Cullen texts Ryan Klos, lawman curate of Environment and Climate, asking: "How are we doing with Sio draft?" successful notation to the state issuing a draught task licence for Sio Silica to review.
Klos replies: "Review is going well, and unit are on-track to stock draught with Sio tomorrow. Will fto you cognize time to corroborate erstwhile shared. Let maine cognize if adjuvant to chat." They enactment successful regular interaction successful the pursuing days.

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson and Finance Minister Cliff Cullen basal beside each different and person a speech successful the legislative enclosure earlier Cullen walks to his spot and prepares to work the 2023 fund speech.

Sept. 15, 2023: The section provides a draught licence to Sio Silica for feedback and to enactment done the conditions recommended by the Clean Environment Commission.
Sept. 25, 2023: Representatives of the section and Sio Silica conscionable to sermon the draught licence. Afterward, Klos texts Cullen: "Good gathering contiguous … clarified and concerns addressed." In response, Cullen texts: "Perfect! Everybody happy?" Klos replies:"Yes … everyone seemed bully and appreciative."
While Somji isn't astatine that meeting, helium aboriginal says helium was told the section advised they were moving toward getting a proposal to the manager astir the licence by Oct. 6, 2023, and that helium assumed the proposal would beryllium positive, based connected the draught licence being issue.
Oct. 3, 2023: The governing Progressive Conservatives are defeated successful Manitoba's wide election. Cabinet ministers of the defeated authorities enactment successful bureau during the modulation until the incoming NDP authorities is sworn successful — a play governed by the caretaker convention.

'I americium moving connected it. Just bent successful there'

Oct. 4, 2023: The time aft the election, the Conflict of Interest Act comes into force, applying to everyone who was a furniture curate connected and aft that date, including Stefanson, Cullen, Wharton and Johnson.
Early that morning, David Filmon — a subordinate of the Sio Silica committee of directors well-known for his connections with the Progressive Conservative Party, and a close, longtime person of Stefanson's — texts Cullen. "Can we person a speedy chat today?" helium asks, which helium aboriginal says was to inquire astir the support process for the Sio Silica licence.
Filmon says Cullen tells him determination is simply a "possibility" the licence volition beryllium issued earlier the NDP authorities is sworn in. Cullen past texts lawman curate Klos to inquire astir the permit.

Politicians laughter and speech astatine a run event.

Oct. 5, 2023: Filmon texts Cullen, asking: "Is everything inactive connected way for tomorrow? Obviously a batch of anxiousness connected our end." Cullen replies: "I americium moving connected it. Just bent successful there."
Shortly after, Cullen calls Klos and is told the section volition not contented the licence until the incoming NDP authorities has been briefed.
The aforesaid day, Cullen directs Kathryn Gerrard, clerk of the enforcement council, to spot whether the NDP modulation squad would beryllium comfy with the licence being issued earlier they're sworn in. He besides asks her to look into options successful the lawsuit the incoming authorities was not connected board.
At 5:33 p.m., Stefanson calls Cullen — astatine which constituent the morals commissioner aboriginal finds they were some alert the manager wouldn't contented the licence, and had agreed to research different options to person it issued.

'Did we get it done contiguous Cliff?'

Oct. 6, 2023: At a regularly scheduled modulation squad meeting, Kinew's main of staff, Mark Rosner, is briefed connected the Sio Silica matter, leaving with the content the licence support was moving guardant "possibly arsenic soon arsenic that day" — to which helium objected.

At different briefing aboriginal that day, Rosner says he'll instrumentality the accusation backmost to Kinew to corroborate the incoming government's position.

Deputy ministers successful attendance aboriginal archer Wharton and Cullen the NDP authorities was not consenting to issuing the licence during the modulation period, and enforcement assembly clerk Gerrard besides cautions Cullen the outgoing authorities can't contented the licence connected its ain due to the fact that of the caretaker convention.

Later that afternoon, Gerrard gets an email from a provincial section successful effect to Cullen's petition to find "options" to proceed with the licence. The email outlines conception 11.1 of The Environment Act, which allows the curate of the section to reappraisal and marque decisions astir Class 2 licences successful the spot of the director. The email besides notes that conception of the enactment has ne'er been utilized before.

A pistillate successful a bluish blazer and achromatic sweater looks upward.

The aforesaid day, the section prepares a connection enactment program stating the task licence had been issued.

At 1:37 p.m., Filmon texts Cullen: "Did we get it done contiguous Cliff?"

Over 2 hours later, aft Cullen speaks with Gerrard, helium replies to Filmon: "Apparently the bureaucracy failed to notation to maine determination would beryllium a antithetic result connected issuing if the NDP won. Makes maine look bad. I consciousness sick. Working connected immoderate options with Kathryn [Gerrard]. Will person much connected Tuesday."

The morals commissioner aboriginal finds by the extremity of the day, nationalist servants wrong the section determined they wouldn't instrumentality further steps to contented the licence until the caller authorities was sworn in. "The same, however, cannot beryllium said astir the elected officials," the commissioner says.

'Good morning, It is messy'

Oct. 10, 2023: At the adjacent modulation squad meeting, Rosner confirms the incoming authorities opposes issuing the licence during the modulation period. Gerrard shares that accusation with Cullen.

Later that afternoon, successful effect to Cullen's petition for "options," Gerard forwards the email astir conception 11.1 to Cullen.

Shortly after, Cullen calls Stefanson. During a 42-minute call, helium tells her the NDP opposes issuing the licence during the modulation play and explains the conception 11.1 enactment to her.

A man's caput and shoulders with a Costco logo successful brushed absorption successful the distance.

Kevin Klein was antecedently the provincial curate of situation and climate. (Tyson Koschik/CBC)
They hold they would stock the accusation astir that enactment with Wharton, "with the volition that helium enactment connected that information," the commissioner aboriginal finds.

Just aft noon that day, Filmon texts Cullen: "Any update Cliff? Hope you had a bully Thanksgiving weekend!" Cullen does not respond.

Oct. 11, 2023: As of this date, members of the nationalist work statesman "to person much unit from ministers wrong the outgoing PC authorities to hole to usage the conception 11.1 option," the morals commissioner aboriginal finds.

At 4:23 a.m., Filmon texts Cullen again: "Just checking successful again thanks." Cullen replies astatine 7 a.m.: "Good morning, It is messy. Bottom line, it is up to the NDP. I volition support you posted."

'You bash you'

Oct. 12, 2023: The time efforts to person the Sio Silica licence issued "come to a head," the morals commissioner aboriginal finds.

At 3:46 p.m., Shandy Walls, a Sio Silica lobbyist, sends Rosner, Kinew's main of staff, a substance with a GIF of Tina Fey giving herself a high-five and the question "Yes?" Minutes later, Stefanson calls Cullen and they talk for astir 10 minutes.

The aforesaid day, Cullen calls Wharton, telling him astir the NDP's absorption to issuing the licence during the modulation play and giving him details astir the conception 11.1 process.

Wharton offers to interaction Kevin Klein, past the curate of situation and climate, to inquire him to o.k. the licence. He besides offers to interaction Rochelle Squires, Klein's archetypal acting minister, to springiness the support if Klein refuses.

A pistillate lasting earlier a array and a motion speechmaking "Centreventure."

Wharton calls both, and some garbage to o.k. the licence. (Wharton aboriginal says erstwhile helium asked Klein whether helium would beryllium OK with him phoning Squires and asking her to o.k. the licence, Klein replied, "you bash you.")

At 5:37 p.m., instantly aft his telephone with Wharton, Klein calls Stefanson. He leaves a voicemail asking her to telephone him and sends her a text: "We request to speech ASAP. Silica happening is retired of control." Klein past leaves Cullen a akin voicemail.

At 10:12 p.m., Stefanson texts Kelvin Goertzen and Ron Schuler, the PC MLAs for Steinbach and Springfield-Ritchot.

She writes: "Hi guys. Sorry to fuss you but a precise superior contented conscionable came crossed my table contiguous wherever Jeff Wharton tried to ram done sio silica licence utilizing ministerial authority. I person diffused [sic] everything. But we request to chat. Derek was progressive and I'm not definite I tin spot him moving forward. If you person clip to speech contiguous I americium up for different 20 mins. Otherwise we tin chat time thx h."

The morals commissioner aboriginal writes: "While I cannot talk to Ms. Stefanson's intentions successful sending the substance connection to her colleagues, I find that its contents and her consequent mentation astir it are not accordant with her behaviour that preceded this message.

Specifically, they are not accordant with the information that she and Mr. Cullen had had a treatment connected October 10 astir sharing the conception 11.1 enactment with Mr. Wharton.

I besides enactment that, astatine the clip of Ms. Stefanson's substance message, the program to usage the conception 11.1 enactment had failed and that Mr. Klein had expressed sizeable upset successful effect to Mr. Wharton's request."

A caller authorities successful place

Oct. 18, 2023: The incoming NDP authorities is officially sworn in.
Jan. 12, 2024: NDP caucus seat Mike Moyes, the MLA for Riel, files complaints with the morals commissioner against Stefanson and Wharton. He aboriginal files complaints against Cullen and Johnson, too.
May 6, 2024: Heather Stefanson resigns her spot arsenic MLA for Tuxedo, aft antecedently stepping down arsenic enactment person aft losing government.
May 21, 2025: Ethics commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor releases his last study connected his investigation.
May 22, 2025: Progressive Conservative Manitoba Opposition Leader Obby Khan strips Wharton, the lone 1 of the 3 MLAs fined who is inactive successful office, of his professional duties, but says Wharton volition stay successful caucus.