Premier commits $7.5M to arts organization chaired by her deputy minister
CBC
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson pledged earlier this week to provide $7.5 million to an arts organization chaired by her own deputy minister.
On Wednesday, Stefanson announced $7.5 million in funding for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet to help it complete a $30-million expansion.
"Our government is proud to support Manitoba's vibrant arts and culture sector and as we emerge from this pandemic together," the premier said on Wednesday in her first new funding commitment after the end of the Fort Whyte byelection blackout on new government announcements.
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet's board of directors is chaired by Don Leitch, who is Stefanson's deputy minister, the secretary of the provincial cabinet and Manitoba's most powerful public servant.
Former interim premier Kelvin Goertzen appointed Leitch to the position of clerk of the executive council on Oct. 31, the day after Stefanson won the Progressive Conservative Party leadership race. Stefanson officially became premier on Nov. 2.
Leitch, who had previously served as clerk under former premier Gary Filmon, replaced David McLaughlin, who was former premier Brian Pallister's appointee to the powerful position.
The clerk has a broad range of powers, including oversight of Manitoba's public service.
Stefanson's office said Leitch originally requested a contribution to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's campus expansion when the ballet filed an application two years ago.
After his reappointment to the role of clerk of the executive council, Leitch declared his conflict of interest to the government, Stefanson's office said.
"In that declaration, he indicated he had involvement with requests to both the federal and provincial governments for contributions to the RWB modernization project," Stefanson's office said.
The premier's office said the Royal Winnipeg Ballet request "was consistent with government funding for other significant projects" such as the Winnipeg Art Gallery's Qaumajuq expansion, the Leaf project at Assiniboine Park and the Western Canadian Aviation Museum's new building at Richardson International Airport.
"That formula involves the federal and provincial governments providing contributions to match private-sector donations," the premier's office said.
University of Manitoba political scientist Paul Thomas said Leitch has an honourable reputation and decades of distinguished service inside and outside government.
Thomas also said due to Leitch's long association with the Progressive Conservative Party, he would not have to exert much influence.
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