MLA 'more than a full-time job,' Manitoba premier says, after caucus member decides to stay on as lawyer

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says the responsibilities of an MLA equal more than a full-time job, but a member of his caucus says he'll continue to work as a criminal defence lawyer on the side.

Kinew was asked Tuesday about Fort Garry MLA Mark Wasyliw, who has said he changed his mind and won't wind down his law practice, as he said before the election. 

"I think all of us should understand that public service is more than a full-time job," Kinew responded, although he didn't refer directly to Wasyliw.

Kinew wouldn't say if he'd ask Wasyliw to stop practising law. 

On Monday, Wasyliw told the Winnipeg Free Press he'll continue to take cases as a defence lawyer since he has "a lot of time on my hands" because he wasn't promoted to Kinew's first NDP cabinet.

In addition to representing Fort Garry constituents, Wasyliw was named last week to cabinet's healthy child committee.

He's been a longtime target of the Progressive Conservatives, before and during the recent election campaign, for working as a lawyer while being an elected member of the legislature.

PCs targeted Wasyliw

The Tories have called him out for defending sex offenders and drug dealers in court, even though every person has the right to fair representation in the legal system. 

Wasyliw had a top critic role — in finance — as an Official Opposition MLA. Earlier this year, he was shifted from finance to the dual portfolios of economic development and the environment.

In a Tuesday statement to CBC News, PC caucus chair Ron Schuler said Kinew "needs to tell Manitobans how he will hold his caucus accountable to their word," saying Wasyliw backtracked on a promise to voters.

Kinew wouldn't say if Wasyliw's law practice had any bearing in his decision not to appoint him to cabinet.

"When we put cabinet together, there are so many different dimensions and considerations that I would say the biggest challenge we have on our team is the bench strength we have. There are many, many MLAs on our team who — in fact everyone, I would say — could serve as a minister.

"But at the end of the day, we made a few decisions. One of them was to shrink the size of cabinet and as a result, there's some decisions that have to be made about how many people can serve in that capacity."

There's no rule preventing MLAs from holding business or financial interests, but they must disclose them and avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

When asked if Wasyliw should give up his law practice, Kinew said the "expectation is first that you will treat your MLA work as more than a full-time job."

When contacted by CBC for comment, Wasyliw said in an emailed statement he takes his role in the new government seriously and is "honoured and excited to serve as legislative assistant to the minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning."

He didn't shake hands with Kinew after being sworn in as an MLA on Monday. All other NDP MLAs shook Kinew's hand, except Jennifer Chen and Bernadette Smith, who hugged him, and Malaya Marcelino, who gave him a fist bump. 

The former Winnipeg School Division trustee was first elected as MLA in 2019.

WATCH | Premier Kinew answers questions about Mark Wasyliw's law practice:

Kinew says public service demands time after 1 of his MLAs stays on as lawyer

1 year ago

Duration 1:49

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew faces questions from reporters in response to a member of his caucus, Mark Wasyliw, saying he'll continue to work as a criminal defence lawyer on the side. He previously said he would wind down his practice, but now says he has more time to hold another job because he wasn't appointed to cabinet.