View From the Legislature

Canadians have likely become so accustomed to political parties hurling accusations against one another that it hardly catches any attention. So, this week when a provincial MLA accused Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew of being a toxic and dysfunctional leader unfit to hold the office of Premier, it may not have been that surprising. Until the listener realized that it was a member of Mr. Kinew’s own party that was levelling these accusations.

On Monday, the Manitoba NDP Caucus announced that it was expelling one of its own MLAs, Mark Wasyliw, from caucus. It has long been known that there is considerable friction between Mr. Kinew and Mr. Wasyliw. It is difficult to know the true cause of the friction, but at least some of it stems from the fact that Mr. Wasyliw has maintained a law practice during his time in elected office. That apparently boiled over this past week when Premier Kinew used the rationale that Mr. Wasyliw may be associated in some way with lawyers that are defending Peter Nygard. Mr. Wasyliw quickly stated that he had no connection to the high-profile case and stated that he was removed because he challenged Mr. Kinew on government matters and that Mr. Kinew does not appreciate being questioned.

The expulsion of an elected member from a Caucus is both a rare and very very difficult decision for members of a caucus to make. It often creates internal division and long-term angst. I have unfortunately witnessed this firsthand on a few occasions during my political tenure.

But what was truly concerning were the allegations that Mr. Wasyliw made on the way out the NDP Caucus door. He made public claims that the workplace within government and the NDP was toxic. He stated that Premier Kinew was demeaning to staff and would often yell at them in public causing many to leave their careers. He went on to say that as a result of this toxic work environment that has been created, Mr. Kinew is unfit to hold the office of Premier.

Having been the Minister of the largest departments of government in Manitoba, including Premier in the fall of 2021, I understand the stress of the work that is done in government. But I also know that it is never appropriate to let those stresses manifest themselves into creating toxic and unsafe work environments. All of this is particularly remarkable, and concerning, given the fact that Mr. Kinew has only held the office of Premier for 10 months. If these allegations are in fact true, they cannot be left without response and action.

Observers of Manitoba politics will remember the revelations that came to light years after the NDP left government in 2016. It culminated in uncovering harassment that happened during their previous time in office and the efforts that were made to cover those allegations up. As a result, new rules and procedures were instituted at the Manitoba Legislature that provide for independent investigations about allegations of mistreatment in the workplace.

Only the members of the NDP Caucus itself truly understand the reasons for the expulsion of Mr. Wasyliw. But the allegations that he made regarding a toxic work environment created by the most powerful politician in Manitoba cannot be ignored in the same way they were ignored the last time the NDP were in government.