FYI, here is an enumeration of what was lost with the (Conservative) privatization of MTS. (.pdf file) Incidently, Tom Stefanson, the brother of the Conservative Finance Minister Eric Stefanson, became the CEO of the new MTS.
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Madam Speaker, I am glad the member for Turtle Mountain introduced members' statements by talking about credibility, because this government has absolutely none, as we have seen evidence in Question Period today. We have a Premier (Mr. Filmon) who in Question Period would not even answer a direct question about the fact that he, his government appointed one Tom Stefanson a chair of the board of MTS, would not address one question about the fact that the government still continues to have representatives on that board and that they are directly responsible for the million-dollar potential benefit to one Tom Stefanson at the expense of the people of Manitoba.This is of scandalous proportions in this province. This is corrupt and unethical behaviour. Talk about conflict of interest. Tom Stefanson was one of the four key players in the sell-off of MTS. By the way, to the Premier, that did not include anybody in terms of the people of Manitoba. Tom Stefanson now is in the position of getting a million-dollar benefit out of that. Anyone in the province of Manitoba understands how unethical that is.
It amazes me that this Premier had the gall earlier in Question Period to stand in his place and try and deny the connection with Tom Stefanson and even put the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) in the position of having to answer questions. I believe that, Madam Speaker, should be considered a conflict of interest, obviously. I do not make that as a personal attack. I say to the Minister of Finance, get the Premier to do your dirty work next time. Get him to answer for the kinds of decisions that have led to that kind of rip-off.
For this Premier to talk about the sale of MTS having been passed by this Legislature, let us not forget that this is a Premier who used every single undemocratic, every tactic in the book to ram through the sale. We are now saying: who is benefiting? The people of Manitoba have seen 400 layoffs, higher rates, and Tom Stefanson pocketing $1 million. That is corrupt. That is unethical.
Tom Stefanson is still the CEO of MTS Allstream. His brother, the former provincial finance Minister, was appointed to the board of VIA Rail Canada by Federal Minister Lawrence Cannon. Services rendered, etc.
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I guess that begs the question: will the Manitoba Premier (eventually) get such an appointment? In any case, MTS is still a privatized body and its benefits are lost to the people of Manitoba.