WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger says he and his staff were not involved in a controversial decision to invite government-funded immigrant service agencies to a legislature debate.
Selinger says former immigration minister Christine Melnick acted without his office's knowledge, and he took her at her word when she initially denied being behind the plan.
The controversy dates back to April, 2012, when Melnick introduced a resolution in the legislature criticizing the federal government's plan to take over some immigration programs run by the province.
The day before, bureaucrats had sent out invitations to government-funded immigrant service agencies, asking them to attend the debate even if it meant taking the afternoon off work.
Melnick told a legislature committee she did not order the invitations be sent, but a report from the ombudsman last December said she did.
The premier says he believed Melnick, and only found out the truth once the ombudsman's probe began.
Melnick has apologized and told the CBC she suffered memory loss from undiagnosed diabetes.
Selinger says he's not a medical expert and can't comment on Melnick's explanation.
Melnick was dropped from cabinet last October but remains in the government caucus.
