Manitoba's energy minister is not apologizing for taking a ticket to a Jets game from an oil company.
Instead, Manitoba Minister of Energy Dave Chomiak referred to an apology Premier Greg Selinger offered to Manitobans recently on behalf of his MLAs.
"The Premier dealt with that issue last week," said Chomiak.
Recently, as part of a controversy surrounding elected officials receiving free tickets to Winnipeg Jets games, it was revealed that the minister accepted free tickets from Tundra Oil and Gas.
Chomiak said he declared the gift on conflict of interest forms submitted to the province. Chomiak said he also accepted tickets from MTS.
"With respect to the past, we've made – as you know – I've claimed – we've claimed all of our matters on the conflict of interest forms," Chomiak said.
Chomiak appeared with officials from Tundra Oil and Gas Friday as part of a joint announcement.
Tundra Oil and Gas CEO Dan Maclean said it wasn't his intention to get anybody in trouble and gave the tickets to the minister as a way to build a relationship with him.
"I come in off the street, and I sit down with Chomiak, and he doesn't know me from Adam." said Maclean.
Maclean explained he goes over potential business plans with the minister at events like Jets games. He maintained the meeting between Chomiak and its executives at the Jets game in February was not a lobbying effort. It said the offer was meant to get some rare face time with the minister to help build a relationship.
"It takes time to get to know the person so they can trust you, and we can trust them," Maclean said. "We deal with sensitive stuff. This is a very competitive environment," he added.
Maclean also clarified that the tickets Chomiak received were not ones that could have been used by the public. "The tickets that we have are box tickets that are owned by the Richardsons so they wouldn't be out on the street. If not Mr. Chomiak, then some other business," said Maclean.
The company also stressed it did not benefit from handing Chomiak a free ticket.
"The regulator needs to be abreast of the kinds of things we're doing both from a developmental standpoint and from a technology standpoint," said Maclean.
The minister said any discussions he had with Tundra Oil or others are to help grow the entire industry.
"I have to do business in Manitoba. The oil and mineral industry is a $3 billion industry," Chomiak said.
Maclean said it frequently takes ministers from other countries to sporting events to talk business. However, that won't happen in Manitoba any longer.
Since the controversy hit, the province has implemented a policy that bars MLA's from accepting free tickets to sporting or entertainment events.
A spokesperson for Chomiak said the minister has now donated $500 to the Jets Foundation in lieu of paying back the value of the ticket.
