Manitoba premier stays mum on Melnick controversy

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger is still not answering specific questions about accusations one of his former ministers lied to the legislature.

• Manitoba Tories want inquiry into former immigration minister
• Liberal wants answers from Selinger on staged immigration event

Selinger declined an interview request following a public event at the legislature on the weekend. He has yet to respond to revelations contained in an ombudsman's report last Wednesday.

The report says former immigration minister Christine Melnick did, in fact, order a senior bureaucrat to invite immigrants and service agencies to a legislature debate critical of the federal government.

The finding contradicts what Melnick told the legislature last year, when she said no one told the bureaucrat to send out the invitations.

Opposition Leader Brian Pallister says there are many unanswered questions, such as how long has Premier Greg Selinger known the truth.

Pallister wants a legislature committee inquiry to be launched.

The government says Melnick has apologized for any misunderstanding, and that should put the matter to rest.