‘I do apologize’: Manitoba premier sorry for not disclosing trips to Grey Cup games

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives are calling for an investigation after Premier Wab Kinew accepted private travel to two Grey Cup games.

WINNIPEG — Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says his province’s ethics commissioner now knows about his trips to two Grey Cup games after the Opposition Progressive Conservatives requested an investigation into the matter.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Kinew said he advised the ethics commissioner about flying on a private charter flight with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the 2023 and 2024 Grey Cup games.

“I do apologize to Manitobans,” he said. “This was something I ... should have said earlier.”

His comments come after the Opposition Progressive Conservatives called for an investigation after Kinew failed to disclose that he accepted and paid for private travel with Winnipeg’s professional football team to attend two Grey Cup games.

Tory caucus chair Greg Nesbitt filed a complaint with the province’s ethics commissioner after a CBC News report. Nesbitt said accepting flights through a private charter goes against Manitoba’s Conflict of Interest Act.

The ethics commissioner confirmed Nesbitt’s request was received and that there would be no further comment as the matter is now under review.

The act, which came into force in October 2023, states that a house member “must not accept travel on a non-commercial chartered or private aircraft ... that is connected, directly or indirectly, with the performance of the member’s official powers, duties or functions.”

The law outlines this may not apply if the member receives approval from the commissioner before accepting the travel or if a trip is required for the performance of the member’s office, and that alternative travel must be considered.

It also states the member must disclose information about the trip within 30 days after travelling so the commissioner can make it available to the public.

The Blue Bombers invited Kinew on a private charter to the 2023 Grey Cup game in Hamilton and the following year to the football finals in Vancouver. The Bombers were playing both years.

The team confirmed the premier paid for the trips personally. Included on the charter flights were team members' family and friends, invited fans, staff and corporate partners.

“The private charters were booked because last-minute domestic flights are difficult to book with only a week’s notice,” a spokesperson said in an email Monday.

“The Winnipeg Football Club invited the premier and the mayor to travel on the charter to represent our city and province at Canada’s largest sporting event.”

The trips weren’t disclosed to the ethics commissioner until Monday.

“When I get tickets to a (Winnipeg) Jets game and I pay my own way, I don’t have to disclose those,” Kinew said.

“I figured I’m paying my own way to the Grey Cup, so I wouldn’t have to disclose, but I talked to the ethics commissioner this morning and he said I should, so I did.”

Wayne Ewasko, interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives, said his party is concerned about the level of accountability and transparency Kinew has shown.

“It’s not about attending the Grey Cup,” said Ewasko. “It’s about following the law and about disclosing the thousands of dollars that he may or may not have paid for that chartered air service.”

CBC reported the premier spent thousands of dollars to attend the 2023 game with his wife, child and a special assistant.

The public broadcaster also reported that Kinew publicly disclosed expenses relating to his hotel stay for the same event, but that information was removed from a detailed online list of his expenses last week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2025.

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press