New Manitoba PC leader apologizes for landfill search campaign ads

Manitoba's new Opposition leader apologized Monday for campaign advertisements the Progressive Conservative party ran in the last election that promoted their decision to not search a landfill for the remains of two murder victims.

Obby Khan used his first legislature speech since winning the Tory leadership on April 26 to say sorry to the victims' families and to promise a new tone from his party.

"I stand here today as the new leader of the PC party and apologize to the families ... and to all Manitobans for the harm that was caused by a previous campaign," Khan, who was a cabinet minister in the former Tory government, said.

His words follow a similar apology in March from Wayne Ewasko, who had served as the Tories' interim leader. Khan added he hopes to apologize in person to the families and many organizations for the ads, and has asked staff to reach out and arrange meetings.

Nahanni Fontaine, the NDP government's minister of families, criticized Khan minutes earlier for having not apologized to date.

"He still hasn't found time to reach out to the families. He's not stood in this chamber to apologize," Fontaine said.

The Tories, then in government, ran ads in 2023 promoting the party's decision not to search the Prairie Green Landfill, north of Winnipeg, where the remains of two First Nations women — Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran — were believed to be buried. The ads cited safety concerns for searchers facing toxic material.

The NDP government launched the search after winning the election and found the remains of Harris and Myran. Last year, Jeremy Skibicki was convicted of first-degree murder in the killings of Myran, Harris and two other women.

Khan said he plans to have "a new direction" for the Tories that also includes more respectful debate in the legislature chamber.

Tory MLA apologizes for therapy contract question

Also in question period on Monday, PC MLA Greg Nesbitt apologized for suggesting that a contract to provide mental health support services was for NDP Finance Minister Adrien Sala, when in fact it was for workers searching the Prairie Green landfill. 

"Why can't this minister pay for his own self-reflection?" Nesbitt asked in question period on April 22.

Some NDP MLAs shouted at Nesbitt, while Speaker Tom Lindsey called for order. However, Lindsey apologized the next day for saying Nesbitt's question was out of line. 

"My choice of words for a recent question to the honourable minister of finance in this house was inappropriate," Nesbitt said, adding that he apologized to Sala in person Monday morning. 

Nesbitt said he's sorry for any "unintended consequences of the way [his] questions were worded." 

Sala said Monday that he accepts Nesbitt's apology, but said the Tory MLA has other apologies to make over his comments. 

"The proper thing to do here is to ensure that those landfill workers, who are the recipients of those supports, hear an apology from him and their team," Sala said. 

Question period quieter, but still signs of partisan sniping

The Tories and NDP were recently chided by legislature Speaker Tom Lindsey for heckling and shouting. And while Manitoba politicians have frequently promised better behaviour, Khan told reporters after question period he intends to follow through.

"No one was heckling today," Khan said.

There were, however, signs of ongoing partisan sniping.

Khan accused the NDP government of caring more about photo opportunities than improving health care. Premier Wab Kinew, when asked by reporters whether he congratulated Khan for winning the Tory leadership, said no.

"No one ever reached out and congratulated me," Kinew said. He was elected NDP leader in 2017.

Kinew and Khan got into some sort of altercation in 2023 during a public event at the legislature.

Khan said Kinew held him in a long handshake, swore at him and shoved his stomach. Kinew denied the accusation, saying there was a "tense verbal exchange" and a handshake. Security camera footage, from a distance and without audio, did not shed much light on the matter.

New PC leader apologizes for party's handling of landfill search, commits to better decorum

3 days ago

Duration 2:08

In his first day in the legislative chamber as leader of Manitoba’s Official Opposition, Obby Khan apologized for his party’s refusal to search the Prairie Green landfill for the remains of First Nations women and committed his MLAs to better behaviour in the legislature.