Manitoba NDP slams Tories for questions over government therapy contract

Steve Lambert · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Apr 22, 2025 8:30 PM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

Tempers flared astatine the Manitoba legislature Tuesday arsenic the Opposition Progressive Conservatives questioned the NDP authorities astir a declaration for intelligence wellness therapy, suggesting it whitethorn person been for the payment of Finance Minister Adrien Sala.

Tory Greg Nesbitt tabled a papers that shows the Finance Department precocious signed a declaration for $10,205 with a counselling services supplier successful Winnipeg. The supplier advertises services including accent management, grief counselling and struggle resolution.

The declaration was 1 of much than 40 signed by the section for a assortment of services truthful acold this twelvemonth and, without immoderate supporting evidence, Nesbitt suggested it was to supply services for Sala.

"Why can't this curate wage for his ain self-reflection?" Nesbitt asked successful question play arsenic immoderate New Democrats shouted astatine him, prompting the legislature Speaker Tom Lindsey to inquire for calm. The heated statement continued arsenic immoderate NDP members yelled "shame" repeatedly. Some Tories fired backmost arsenic Nesbitt pressed his questions further.

Lindsey stood connected his feet and yelled "order" respective times arsenic the cacophony continued.

"I'm not going to shriek 1 much clip for bid successful this house," Lindsey said, exasperated arsenic the politicians fell successful line. Lindsey told Nesbitt that inquiring astir someone's idiosyncratic wellness accusation was retired of line.

After question period, the authorities said the declaration was for intelligence wellness supports for workers who person been searching the Prairie Green landfill for the remains of First Nations women killed by Jeremy Skibicki, who was convicted connected 4 counts of first-degree execution past year.

"I fishy that astir Manitobans would hold that the searchers should beryllium capable to entree intelligence wellness supports, fixed the gravity of the enactment that they're doing," NDP House person Nahanni Fontaine told reporters.

The remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran were some recovered successful the Prairie Green landfill extracurricular of Winnipeg successful February, arsenic portion of a hunt that began past December.

Even if the wealth had been for a politician's intelligence wellness supports, questioning it would beryllium "deplorable," Fontaine added.

The Tories' interim leader, Wayne Ewasko, said his enactment was simply asking a question astir authorities spending.

"It easy could person been answered by the concern curate oregon the families curate alternatively of ending up being called to bid aggregate times," Ewasko said.

Ewasko said helium supports intelligence wellness services for searchers astatine the landfill.