Manitoba sitting on report into child’s death until after byelections

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government says it won’t release a final report into how social services failed a murdered five-year-old girl until two byelections are held.

For almost two years, a public inquiry examined the death of Phoenix Sinclair, who bounced in and out of foster care before she was murdered by her mother and mother’s boyfriend.

Commissioner Ted Hughes delivered his final report to the NDP government in December.

But a government spokeswoman says it won’t be made public until after two byelections are held on Jan. 28.

Angela Jamieson says a ban on government announcements during byelection campaigns prevents the NDP from releasing the commissioner’s recommendations.

Lawyer Jeff Gindin, who represented Sinclair’s father and foster mother at the inquiry, says that interpretation is — quote — “mind-boggling.”

He says two byelection campaigns shouldn’t outweigh the interests of Phoenix’s family, which has been waiting so long for answers.