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WEEKEND, JANUARY 27-29, 2017 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plays Simon Says with students at Robert H. Smith School on Thursday. Trudeau spent the day in Winnipeg as part of his crosscountry tour. JOHN WOODS/ THE CANADIAN PRESS
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Police station claims ‘disturbing’ CONSTRUCTION
Mayor calls for public inquiry into fraud allegations in headquarters deal Stephanie Taylor
Metro | Winnipeg
Simon says... Justin Trudeau makes a stop in Winnipeg during national town hall tour metroNEWS
“Deeply disturbed, distressed and angered.” Mayor Brian Bowman didn’t mince words on Thursday over explosive new allegations of fraud and a $200,000 payoff to the city’s former top bureaucrat in the police headquarters deal. At a city hall press conference, Bowman announced he plans to formally ask the province for a public inquiry into the matter. Earlier that day, CBC News reported the RCMP alleged former CAO Phil Sheegl was paid $200,000 by Caspian Construction for helping them land the job of transforming a Canada Post warehouse on Smith Street into the new home of the city’s police service. CBC also reported that RCMP allege Sheegl shared half that money with former mayor Sam Katz. Bowman called these new allegations “the most seriously damaging to public trust at city hall to date.”
“It’s hard to imagine a more damaging allegation that could be made that compromise the public trust in this city hall,” he said. He plans to table a motion at an executive policy committee in February, asking the province to call for an inquiry. The province wouldn’t comment on Bowman’s request. “While our government understands the concerns raised by the Mayor of Winnipeg, it would be premature for the Attorney General of Manitoba to comment on an issue that remains under active criminal investigation. This is vital to ensure the integrity of the process,” Heather Stefanson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, said in an email statement to Metro. Bowman said the scope of the requested inquiry will have to be decided by the city’s public administration and legal services. “I take these allegations very, very seriously. We have a job to (do). It’s not unreasonable for Winnipeggers to expect that we’re going to be doing everything in our power.” Coun. John Orlikow, chairman of the city’s property, planning and development committee, echoed Bowman’s characterization when he called the allegations “disturbing.” “There’s no other better word for it,” he told reporters. “Disturbing not only for democracy at whole, but for the taxpayers that invest with us. It puts a bad light onto what we try to do here in the public service to support people.”
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