Kinew Shuts Out PC MLA from Speaking at Local Grand Opening of PC-Funded Culture Centre
SWAN RIVER — Progressive Conservatives are condemning Wab Kinew’s partisan behaviour after his office blocked a PC MLA from delivering a speech at a local event Saturday.
Swan River MLA Rick Wowchuk was scheduled to speak at the grand opening of Swan Valley Regional Secondary School’s new cultural arts centre on Saturday. However, the night before, the premier’s office called the chair of the Swan Valley School Division board—Wowchuk’s brother—to insist that the MLA not be allowed to speak. The school division confirmed during the event that the program was changed at the last minute.
While Kinew and several guests spoke at the event, Wowchuk posted on Facebook the speech that he had prepared to deliver.
“It’s childish and it’s unbecoming of the office of the Premier of Manitoba,” said Wowchuk. “As an educator, I’ve seen time and time again that if you don’t stand up against a bully, it only gets worse. Our province is better when we work together.”
In 2023, the previous PC government announced an investment of $15 million towards the construction of the centre, funding that was advocated for by Wowchuk and secured by then-Education Minister Wayne Ewasko. Developed in consultation with Indigenous community leaders, the new space will support the advancement of arts and culture in the region.
“As an alumnus of the school’s first graduating class, and having taught there for 25 years, I could not have been more proud to be the MLA for Swan River and fight for the funding for this project,” said Wowchuk. “To bring provincial dollars to supplement all the local work that went in.”
Some speakers on Saturday also recognized Wowchuk for his role in the project.
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