Manitoba's Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, Steve Ashton, said he did not use his influence as minister to get his wife out of hot water at Winnipeg's airport.
Ashton faced questions this week about whether or not he threw his weight around to get his wife released from police custody after an incident with Calm Air at Winnipeg's airport on March 17.
Winnipeg Police confirmed officers had to detain a woman who was being unruly towards Calm Air employees at the airport.
CTV News has learned the woman was the Minister of Transportations's wife, Hari Dimitrakopoulou-Ashton.
Const. Jason Michalyshen of the Winnipeg police service said Ashton's wife, "was detained for a period of time. There was a situation where this passenger was upset with employees."
Ashton said his wife was upset over an eight-hour delay of her flight to Thompson and that airline officials wouldn't provide her with vouchers for free food.
"She told me after that she may have said a few things she regretted," Ashton said.
"(Calm Air) employees … had been dealing with an unruly passenger for a period of time," said Michalyshen. "Obviously they were making every effort to resolve the issue. They weren't able to."
Police said no charges or arrests were made.
While Ashton said his wife was never a security risk, the Tories raised concerns that the minister abused his power to gain access to the emergency operations area of the airport where his wife was being held. Opposition critics urged the minister to "come clean" about what happened.
On Monday, Ashton denied that he used his power as a minister. He said he didn't arrive until after his wife was released and that's when the couple sat down with Calm Air employees and airport officials to try and resolve the matter.
"There was no throwing the weight around. The incident was over. She was not in custody," said Ashton.
The Winnipeg Airports Authority said members of the public are allowed in the secure area if they are escorted by an airport official.
Calm Air would not comment except to say it has no issue with the Ashtons and they are allowed to fly with the airline anytime.
Ashton said his family will continue to fly with Calm Air, as they have done for the past 30 years.
-- with a report from CTV's Jeff Keele
