Ousted Manitoba cabinet minister says premier hanging her out to dry

WINNIPEG – An ousted Manitoba cabinet minister says she was told she would have to take the blame for an immigration controversy to protect Premier Greg Selinger.

Former immigration minister Christine Melnick says Selinger’s press secretary told her it didn’t matter what she said and a decision had been made to — “hang her out.”

Melnick says she was directed by one of the premier’s senior advisers to invite immigrant support workers to a debate at the legislature in April 2012.

The premier recently said he and his staff were not involved in the decision to invite government-funded immigrant service agencies.

He said he found out months later that Melnick had ordered her department to issue the invitations.

The provincial ombudsman questioned the propriety of the event last year and Melnick says press secretary Matt Williamson approachedher after that.

Melnick was one of three cabinet ministers demoted to the backbenches in 2013. She says she intends to stay on as the NDP member for the Riel constituency in south Winnipeg.

“I’m very disappointed in Greg Selinger. I have been loyal. I believe I have been a hard-working minister and MLA and have been part of the team,” Melnick said Monday.

“To be treated like this is reprehensible and just not acceptable.”