Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger reads his government’s Speech From the Throne at a news conference in Winnipeg on Nov. 20, 2014.JOHN WOODS/The Canadian Press
Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger apologized Friday for misleading the legislature about a National Hockey League ticket he received, but he said it was an honest mistake.
"It was inadvertent … and if anybody wishes to challenge that in the house they have the right to do that," Mr. Selinger told reporters. "You answer the questions accurately the best you (can) at the time, and this specific piece of information was inadvertently omitted."
The apology comes a few days after it was revealed, in an anonymous e-mail sent to several media outlets, that Mr. Selinger had attended a Winnipeg Jets game in December, 2011, with Saskatchewan politician Ken Cheveldayoff.
That contradicts what Mr. Selinger said in May, 2012, when his government was facing criticism after several cabinet ministers accepted free Jets tickets from both public-sector agencies and private firms. Mr. Selinger released a list of 13 NDP caucus members who had received the free tickets. His own name was not on the list. That same week, Mr. Selinger was asked by then-Opposition leader Hugh McFadyen whether he had received any free Jets tickets.
"No," said Mr. Selinger, according to the official transcript of a legislature committee hearing.
"So did the premier directly purchase his tickets, then, from the Jets box office?" Mr. McFadyen asked.
"I directly purchased my own tickets, yes," Mr. Selinger responded.
"And were they purchased directly from the Jets organization?" Mr. McFadyen continued.
"Yes," Mr. Selinger said.
After the truth was revealed this week, Mr. Selinger said he wanted to pay for the ticket, but his host didn't want the money, so the premier gave $300 to charity about six weeks later.
Brian Pallister, leader of the Opposition Progressive Conservatives, said the timing of the premier's apology is questionable. "It's late in coming, but it is an apology, and I was raised to believe you accept it when people offer it."
Mr. Selinger's use of the word "inadvertent" could be key to avoiding any potential trouble.
Under the Legislative Assembly Act, anyone who misleads the legislature or one of its committees can be sanctioned and jailed. But previous rulings from the Speaker have established a precedent that no penalty is meted out if the misleading was inadvertent.