Manitoba’s ombudsman will probe whether the Selinger government broke any rules in the tendering process for flood-fighting equipment.
Questions have surfaced over a $5-million deal to supply Manitoba First Nations with tiger dams.
The ombudsman office said it will investigate the process undertaken by the Manitoba civil service, related to the funding and procurement of flood-fighting equipment between July 2014 and January 2015.
“…I believe that given the administrative matters involved and the ongoing public interest in the issue, there is value in conducting an investigation to ensure appropriate processes were followed,” said Ombudsman Charlene Paquin in a statement.
Manitoba’s Conservatives have called on Infrastructure Minister Steve Ashton to resign because of a whistleblower’s allegation he tried to buy the equipment from a single source.
But Premier Greg Selinger has said he’d welcome any investigation into the matter as the contract was put out to tender. That contract has not yet been awarded.
