WINNIPEG — Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew apologized to defence lawyers Wednesday for comments he made when his NDP caucus expelled backbencher Mark Wasyliw. Wasyliw, who is a criminal defence lawyer, was removed from the governing caucus last month because one of his colleagues, Gerri Wiebe, is representing disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard, who has already been convicted on sexual assault charges and faces more. At the time, Kinew said someone cannot be affiliated with both Nygard and the NDP.
The rationale met immediate backlash from legal groups across Canada who said the premier was attacking the important role defence lawyers play in ensuring everyone has the right to representation in court. Kinew initially did not back down. But on Wednesday, he called Wiebe to apologize personally and later apologized publicly on the floor of the legislature.
"The reasons given for the expulsion of one of our former MLAs were accurate. However, upon reflection, my desire for transparency to the people of Manitoba should have been outweighed by my deep respect for the independence of the justice system," Kinew said. "All that I should have said publicly is that there are irreconcilable differences with that (legislature member) and we wish him well.
" Kinew also apologized to defence attorneys "as a profession." He did not say what prompted his change of heart and did not talk to reporters waiting in the hall after question period. Wiebe said she accepted the premier's mea culpa and t.