Manitoba prosecutors have determined, for a second time, to not pursue prison expenses within the case of a development mission that ran nicely over finances and can quickly be the topic of a public inquiry.
The Manitoba Prosecution Service has been reviewing the development of the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters — a transformed Canada Put up constructing that ran $79 million over finances when it was accomplished in 2016.
There was an RCMP investigation that concerned many individuals and in 2019 the prosecution service determined to not lay expenses, citing an unlikelihood of conviction.
The NDP authorities not too long ago introduced it is going to maintain an inquiry into the mission to look at what occurred and suggest modifications for future development initiatives.
Town filed a lawsuit towards a number of individuals, together with its former chief administrative officer, Phil Sheegl, who was discovered by a choose in civil court docket to have accepted a $327,000 bribe from a contractor.
The prosecution service says following the civil court docket discovering and a later attraction, it launched one other assessment and, final month, got here to the identical conclusion that there is no such thing as a cheap chance of a conviction.
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“Alleged wrongdoing in a civil declare want solely be proved on a stability of possibilities, or in different phrases, it’s extra probably than not {that a} fallacious was accomplished,” the service stated in a written assertion Wednesday.
“That is in contrast to prison proceedings the place the Crown should show the prison intent of the accused past an affordable doubt.”
Sheegl argued the $327,000 was for an unrelated actual property deal in Arizona. He appealed the civil court docket ruling and misplaced. The Courtroom of Enchantment stated Sheegl was engaged in 14 totally different derelictions of responsibility that amounted to disgraceful and unethical behaviour by a public servant.
The prosecution service stated it retained a retired prosecutor for the latest assessment.
“The assessment thought-about whether or not prison expenses needs to be approved for accepting a secret fee … fraud … or breach of belief.
“Finally, the conclusion reached was that no prison expenses needs to be laid as a result of there was no cheap chance of conviction. The prosecution lacked proof past an affordable doubt.”
The upcoming inquiry has been given a finances of $2 million and a deadline of Jan. 1, 2027, for a closing report.
Garth Smorang, the Winnipeg lawyer appointed inquiry commissioner, has stated he’s unlikely to delve into why the Crown didn’t lay expenses.
Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe has stated the inquiry will search for methods to make initiatives extra clear and to revive public belief.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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