Manitoba is investing up to $2 million in a public inquiry examining the construction of Winnipeg’s police headquarters, a project plagued by cost overruns and controversy. Labour lawyer Garth Smorang has been appointed commissioner to investigate the actions of former officials and civil servants involved in the procurement and construction process. The inquiry aims to restore public trust in the city’s ability to manage large-scale projects, minimize cost increases and delays, and prevent dishonest practices.
The police headquarters, completed in 2016 for $214 million, significantly exceeded its initial $135 million budget. This project has been the subject of two external audits, a five-year RCMP investigation (concluded in 2019 without charges), and civil litigation. A key lawsuit saw former CAO Phil Sheegl found guilty of accepting a bribe and ordered to pay $1.1 million. Separate litigation against the primary contractor, Caspian Construction, and others, resulted in a settlement of at least $21.5 million.
Despite these legal proceedings, Mayor Scott Gillingham welcomed the inquiry, emphasizing the need for the full story. However, Robert Tapper, who has represented some of the involved individuals, questioned the timing of the inquiry, citing the lapse of time since the events in question. The inquiry’s scope is narrower than the broader inquiry requested by the city in 2017, which sought to examine other real estate transactions. A wider inquiry would likely have been considerably more expensive, as evidenced by other public inquiries. Smorang has the power to compel evidence and may request to expand the inquiry’s scope.
Source: Swifteradio.com
