Former Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson quietly paid a $5,000 fine earlier this year for violating conflict of interest rules – ending a lengthy ethics probe that stretched across her tumultuous time in office.
The ethics commissioner found Stefanson failed to disclose her ownership in three Manitoba companies within the required timeframe. According to documents filed with the legislative clerk’s office, the payment was made in January 2024, roughly two months after her Progressive Conservatives lost power to the NDP.
“This wasn’t just a paperwork issue,” said Paul Thomas, professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba. “The rules exist so Manitobans know exactly what financial interests their elected officials hold, especially those making decisions that might affect businesses across the province.”
The ethics violation centered on Stefanson’s stakes in McDonald Grain Company Ltd., Jocelyn Capital Inc., and Beaverbrook Holdings Ltd. Provincial conflict of interest legislation requires MLAs to report their financial holdings within 15 days of acquiring them. The commissioner determined Stefanson significantly exceeded this deadline.
Current Premier Wab Kinew has avoided direct criticism of his predecessor on this specific matter, focusing instead on his government’s agenda. When asked about the ethics case at a recent infrastructure announcement in Brandon, Kinew responded: “We’re focused on moving Manitoba forward with better healthcare and more affordability for families.”
The Manitoba Legislative Assembly Management Commission, which handles these matters, confirmed the payment closed the case without further action. The fine represents the maximum penalty available under the province’s conflict of interest legislation – a framework some critics argue lacks sufficient teeth.
Dougald Lamont, former Manitoba Liberal leader who initially raised questions about Stefanson’s financial disclosures in 2021, expressed frustration with the process. “It took nearly three years to resolve something that should have been straightforward,” Lamont said in a phone interview. “The public deserves better oversight of their elected officials.”
Shannon Martin, interim PC leader, defended Stefanson in a written statement, calling the violation “an administrative oversight during an incredibly challenging period when the province was navigating both COVID-19 recovery and severe flooding issues.”
The companies in question have connections to Manitoba’s agricultural and real estate sectors. McDonald Grain has historical ties to grain shipping in the province, while the other firms appear to be investment vehicles with various holdings. Public records indicate Stefanson’s family has maintained interests in these companies for several generations.
Ethics watchdogs point to this case as evidence of needed reforms to Manitoba’s conflict of interest system. Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch, suggests the province should follow British Columbia’s model with stricter disclosure requirements and more significant penalties for violations.
“Five thousand dollars isn’t much of a deterrent for someone with substantial assets,” Conacher noted. “Transparency in government requires rules with real consequences.”
The case highlights broader questions about financial disclosure requirements for public officials across Canada. Six provinces have modernized their ethics legislation in the past decade, while Manitoba’s framework remains largely unchanged since the early 1990s.
According to a 2023 Statistics Canada report, public confidence in provincial institutions has declined by 11 percentage points since 2019, with transparency concerns cited as a key factor.
For many Manitobans dealing with rising living costs and healthcare challenges, the ethics case represents a frustrating distraction. “I’m less concerned about who paid what fine and more worried about my grocery bills,” said Winnipeg resident Maria Paulson during a community forum in St. Boniface last week.
The former premier has maintained a low profile since her electoral defeat, declining interview requests and making few public appearances. Sources close to Stefanson indicate she intends to serve out her term as MLA but has no plans to seek re-election.
As Manitoba’s first female premier, Stefanson’s 26-month tenure was defined by pandemic recovery challenges and declining popularity that ultimately led to her government’s defeat in October 2023. The ethics violation, while not central to her political downfall, adds a complicated footnote to her political legacy.
Meanwhile, the Kinew government has promised to review and potentially strengthen the province’s conflict of interest legislation as part of broader democratic reforms expected to be introduced in the fall session.
