Manitoba Tories call for ethics investigation into premier’s trips to Grey Cup games

By Canadian Press on March 24, 2025.

WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s Opposition Progressive Conservatives are calling for an investigation after Premier Wab Kinew accepted private travel with Winnipeg’s professional football team to go to two Grey Cup games.

The Tory caucus has asked the ethics commissioner to investigate the trips, saying accepting flights through a private charter goes against the province’s Conflict of Interest Act.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers invited Kinew on a private charter to the 2023 game in Hamilton and the 2024 game in Vancouver.

The organization says the premier paid for the trips personally and was invited to represent the city and province at one of Canada’s largest sporting events.

The law says house members must receive approval from the commissioner before accepting travel on non-commercial chartered or private aircraft or disclose publicly soon after, and that alternative travel must be considered.

There was no public disclosure afterwards and it is not clear whether Kinew reached out to the commissioner prior to the trips.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2025.

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press