Winnipeg, MB—The Commissioner of Elections has found PC MLA for St. Vital and Minister of Crown Services Colleen Mayer broke The Elections Financing Act when she received illegal corporate contributions from the Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba in September of 2018.

After numerous media reports of a pattern of inappropriate interference on the part of the Pallister government in the affairs of MPI and to the benefit of brokers, we now learn the Minister responsible for MPI took illegal corporate contributions from IBAM.

“The Pallister government forced MPI to take decisions that will cost ratepayers money and now we learn the Minister responsible took illegal corporate contributions from Brian Pallister’s insurance broker friends,” said Mark Wasyliw, NDP candidate in Fort Garry- Riverview. “The Minister broke the law. She should do the right thing and resign.”

The Pallister government’s pattern of interference speaks for itself:

• August 2018 - Colleen Mayer is named Minister of Crown Services, responsible for MPI;
• September 19^th, 2018 - St. Vital Constituency Association hosts a golf tournament fundraiser, the ‘Colleen Mayer Golf Classic’, sponsored by IBAM and other insurance brokers;
• November 2018 - government orders MPI to give brokers a two year, multi-million-dollar deal against MPI’s wishes;
• March 2019 - government orders MPI to give brokers 100% ownership for all online transactions against MPI’s wishes, which results in millions more for brokers and rate increases for families.

“There is a clear conflict of interest between MPI and the Pallister government that fails to put ratepayers first. Brian Pallister must stop his interference with MPI and keep rates affordable for Manitoba families,” Wasyliw said.