Honeymoon over for miffed MLA Wasyliw, who gives premier cold shoulder after being left out of cabinet

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This article was published 24/10/2023 (710 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A rift between Premier Wab Kinew and a prominent member of his NDP caucus has appeared before the legislative session has even begun.

After incumbent Fort Garry MLA Mark Wasyliw was overlooked for a cabinet post then snubbed Kinew by not shaking his hand at Monday’s MLA swearing-in ceremony, the criminal defence lawyer said he plans to take on more cases now that he’s not in cabinet and will have more time to devote to his law practice.

That did not sit well with his boss.

“I think everyone who has been elected by the people of Manitoba should focus on serving the people of Manitoba,” Kinew told reporters when asked about it at an unrelated press conference Tuesday. He said Wasyliw not shaking his hand after taking his oath of office did not bother him. The premier would not say if Wasyliw was asked to give up his law practice or if it had anything to do with his being passed over for a minister’s role.

“When we put cabinet together, there are so many different dimensions and considerations that I would say the biggest challenge we have on our team is the bench strength we have. There are many, many MLAs on our team who — in fact everyone, I would say — could serve as a minister,” Kinew said.

In opposition, Wasyliw served as finance critic and is a former chairman of the Winnipeg School Division.

“I think all of us should understand that public service is more than a full-time job,” the premier said. “I’m saying the expectation is first that you will treat your MLA work as more than a full-time job.”

Wasyliw said Monday he was disappointed not to be given a portfolio in Kinew’s cabinet.

“You think you have more to give and that you’re in a position to serve the province in a more critical role and that certainly isn’t what’s happening now,” he told the Free Press.

Wasyliw’s work as a defence lawyer and ads on his firm’s website had been the subject of PC attacks in the house and during the election campaign.

In March, he said he would be winding down his practice ahead of the election. On Monday, Wasyliw said he’ll ramp it back up.

“Given that I’m not in cabinet, I’m going to have a lot of time on my hands and I’m going to be taking more cases and working as a defence lawyer still.” he said, adding he intends to serve his Fort Garry constituents and work as the legislative assistant to Education Minister Nello Altomare but won’t be giving up his practice.

Not shaking Kinew’s hand at Monday’s ceremony after every other NDP caucus member acknowledged their leader was “petulant,” and saying he’s going to spend more time on his legal practice “is snub No. 2,” one political commentator said.

“One of the basic rules of provincial politics is don’t show up the big guy,” said Deveryn Ross, who was deputy chief of staff to former premier Brian Pallister. “Don’t show up the premier in a public place — and that’s exactly what Wasyliw did.

“It’s a horrible distraction on what should have been a good news day for the government. Whatever the problem was before they kept him out of cabinet, the relationship is now worse because of what he did (Monday).”

Ross said he expects Wasyliw will be relegated to the third bench — furthest from the premier — when the house resumes.

“There’s only one way you get back from this: apologize and put in a lot of hard work. I’m not sure, based on what I saw from his demeanor (Monday), that he’s willing to do either of those things.”

Kinew as leader needs to swiftly address the rift with his backbencher, Ross said.

“It’s just a terrible example for rookie MLAs on how to behave. If you’re the premier, you can’t allow this to continue because it sends a message to other MLAs who feel they were snubbed that this is an acceptable way to behave. It’s not acceptable and Kinew, I fully expect, will put his foot down.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca