Mayor moves closer to call for public inquiry on police HQ
Headquarters project may be part of further investigation
Mayor Brian Bowman said he's moving closer to asking the province to call a public inquiry into the renovation of Winnipeg's police headquarters and other city construction projects.
Bowman made the comment Tuesday as part of his year-end interview with CBC News.
"Keep in mind at this point that these are allegations, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to imagine a scenario where we won't be asking for the province to call a public inquiry," Bowman said.
Bowman's opinion comes after a CBC News report revealed RCMP allegations of a plan to offer a $600,000 secret commission to the project director in charge of the city's interests in the police-HQ construction project.
Bowman said the Mounties have to finish their work before the request is made to the province.
"We first need to let the results of the RCMP investigation conclude and then we will make a decision from there. But all options will be on the table, including asking the province to call a public inquiry," Bowman told CBC News.
"We have to do what's necessary" after the investigation is done, he said.
Bowman called news the RCMP are investigating allegations of the use of a secret commission in the headquarters project "troubling."
"It's very serious allegations and very troubling. For me it reaffirms why it was important to waive solicitor-client privilege … and trust that has made it easier for the RCMP to get the information they need for their investigation," Bowman said.
City councillors wait for Mounties
CBC News contacted several city councillors for reaction to the story and to find out what options they feel should be on the table.
Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Jenny Gerbasi said she wants the RCMP to conclude their work before making a definitive decision on the next course of action, but acknowledged a public inquiry is one of the options.
"I'd obviously be open to that. I think at this point they are in the midst of doing their investigation. I think we cross that bridge when we come to it. If we don't have answers, then we will have to consider some other way to get those answers," Gerbasi said.
She said she understands there might be frustration over how long it is taking to get to the truth of what happened with the Winnipeg's police headquarters project, which council approved at a price of $135 million in 2009 but has cost $214 million to date.
'Too early to say'
Finance chair Scott Gillingham (St. James-Brooklands) also wants to wait for the RCMP to finish before deciding what's next.
"What the next move will be for the city will likely depend on the results of the RCMP investigation," Gillingham said. "To be fair, it's too early to say anything beyond that."
Elmwood-East Kildonan councillor Jason Schreyer says the information coming out on the police headquarters file "just seems to spiral," and says he would vote for a public inquiry if he felt he wasn't getting enough information.
"Yes, if I feel we haven't got all the answers, but I am reliant on the RCMP's investigation and the media to make my decision," Schreyer said.
No comment from finance minister, NDP
Several councillors chose to wait for more information before commenting publicly, including police board chair Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan), infrastructure chair Marty Morantz (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Whyte Ridge) and South Winnipeg-St. Norbert Coun. Janice Lukes.
CBC News asked provincial finance minister Cameron Friesen how the Manitoba government would react to a request for a public inquiry, but he declined to comment.
The Opposition NDP declined to make someone available for an interview on the story.
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