Minister disputes chief’s claim money offered to remove highway checkpoint

A provincial cabinet minister says he did not offer up to $250,000 for economic development to Bloodvein River First Nation’s chief in return for the removal of a highway checkstop that has outraged hunters.

Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Minister Ian Bushie said he and Bloodvein Chief Lisa Young have discussed application-based Indigenous economic development programs.

“We talked about the opportunity for them to apply for that,” said Bushie. “We did not offer a bribe in any way, shape or form.”

Young said this week that Bushie raised the prospect of the money in a private conversation in September and told her the First Nation would receive a letter directing it to move the checkstop because it’s on a provincial highway.

On Thursday, Bushie said he did have a conversation with Young at an event at the Waywayseecappo urban reserve in Brandon in September. But, he said they discussed economic development opportunity programs to which Bloodvein could apply.

“Absolutely not,” Bushie said, when asked whether there was a suggestion during that conversation the money would be easier to get if the blockade were lifted.

He conceded economic development money that Bloodvein could apply for and the checkstop have come up in the same conversations.

Bushie confirmed he said “I’m not bribing you” in conversation with Young, but said he did so in “a flippant way, I said that more to lighten the mood.”

“Clear as day, we didn’t want to do that, this was not a bribe in any way, shape or form,” said Bushie.

He said there was no intention or offer of a quid-pro-quo.

Bloodvein established a checkstop on its access road in May 2025 to prevent drugs and alcohol from entering the reserve, about 235 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. It later moved to Rice River Road, a public highway, 20 km south of the reserve, after leadership discovered contraband was being brought in by water.

The Manitoba Wildlife Federation called for the checkstop to be moved back to reserve land, arguing licensed hunters shouldn’t be prevented from accessing Crown land. The organization sought a court injunction last year, but the Court of King’s Bench dismissed its application on procedural grounds, leaving the checkstop in place.

Bloodvein told the court last year it would allow licensed hunters through if they complied with its alcohol and drug ban. The federation reported hunters were able to pass through for the remainder of the year.

The issue resurfaced when hunters were turned away at the start of moose hunting season Sept. 21.

The province had issued a cease-and-desist letter two days earlier, calling for the checkstop to be relocated. Government ministers have maintained the checkstop must be moved to reserve land.

Bushie said the government’s conversations with First Nation officials over the checkstop continue almost daily.

Interim Progressive Conservative Leader Konrad Narth spoke to reporters about Young’s “very concerning allegations and claims” on Thursday.

He said he thinks that if Young thought she was being bribed and the minister then said it was not a bribe, it was “probably a bribe.”

“I don’t think you need to be told that this isn’t a bribe. It’s potentially much more than just conversation about grant opportunity,” Narth said.

“Obviously, a conversation that attached money that was available from the government to the blockade of the roadway, those conversations were obviously tied. And our concern is that this is this government and the premier dealing with the matter in that way.”

Narth called the minister the “bag man” and pointed his finger at Premier Wab Kinew, claiming he would have given the direction to try to address the issue in that way, as Bushie would not have the authority to do so on his own.

Narth said he’s concerned with the perception of what occurred, given the comments made by Young.

— with files from Chris Kitching

erik.pindera@winnipegfreepress.com