Role of CentreVenture board member questioned in downtown land deal
Timing and consultation under scrutiny
There are more questions to be added to the list when city politicians review the mandate and governance of CentreVenture.
The city's arm's-length development agency has been criticized for its part in a deal for a piece of property next to the expanding RBC Convention Centre.
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The latest revelation involves a parking lot beside it, at 225 Carlton St.
In 2012, the owner of the property, Manitoba Public Insurance, was looking for proposals to develop the lot.
The Crown corporation confirmed that it hired Richard Olfert, a managing partner at accounting firm Deloitte Canada, to evaluate the proposals.
MPI eventually awarded an option on the land to a partnership between Artis REIT and Longboat Development Corp.
Longboat is a part of a group of companies owned by Winnipeg's Chipman family that includes True North Development and the Winnipeg Jets NHL franchise.
Olfert was a member of the board at CentreVenture and was doing that property evaluation for MPI at the same time.
A spokesperson for MPI says Olfert provided advice on proposals for the property but was not involved in deciding which one was chosen.
Now, there are questions about the timing of all this, and the role that CentreVenture has played.
"I mean, there were a number of questions about who was on what board and at what time and what roles they had for various property owners they had in the downtown … in this case, a Crown corporation," said Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan).
CentreVenture owns the empty lot north of the RBC Convention Centre at 220 Carlton St. and signed an option agreement with True North Development in the fall of 2014.
City council's executive policy committee will review the mandate and governance of CentreVenture in February.
Richard Olfert declined comment, citing professional confidentiality to his clients.
The mayor's office is expected to comment late Friday afternoon.