The promised investigation into the Winnipeg police headquarters scandal will not look into other troubled real estate and construction projects in the city’s past.

Prime Minister Wab Kinew said the next investigation would focus on the police headquarters case, but recommendations would focus on preventing similar mistakes that affect other projects in the future.

“Given the current legislative framework that exists in Manitoba, how can we assure Manitobans that their money will be invested in the right way in major public projects,” he told reporters Monday.

The NDP promised during last year’s election campaign to launch an investigation into the acquisition and construction of Winnipeg’s police headquarters, which was the subject of two scathing audits, an investigation of the RCMP and a civil trial which determined that a municipal official had accepted a bribe.

Construction of the headquarters was years behind schedule and $79 million over budget when it opened in 2016.

In 2017, Winnipeg city council voted overwhelmingly in favor of an investigation into this project, but also into “all matters” related to past real estate transactions and capital acquisition issues that have plagued the city under previous administrations. previous ones.

WATCH | We explain the multi-year scandal at Winnipeg Police Headquarters in just over five minutes:

Confused by the Winnipeg Police HQ scandal? We explain

The City of Winnipeg has dismissed lawsuits against dozens of people and businesses in the latest development in the scandal surrounding the construction of the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters. CBC’s Caroline Barghout explains the new chapter in the scandal and how we got here.

In 2013 and 2014, the final two years of former Mayor Sam Katz’s tenure, three external audits examined issues with the police headquarters commission, the construction of four new fire stations and major real estate deals . this included the sale of Canad Inns Stadium, the Parker land swap, and the purchase of the former Canada Post complex in downtown Winnipeg.

Kinew had previously said he was open to the idea of ​​broadening the scope of the police headquarters investigation, but said on Monday his government would not move forward.

He said the province was in the process of drafting terms of reference for the inquiry, establishing a timetable and budget and choosing the commissioner. Kinew did not provide a timeline Monday for the completion of this work.

No start or end date for the investigation was provided either.

“I think there is a very important public need for us to understand what went wrong here, what mistakes were made and, more importantly, to look to the future: how can we prevent something something like this or some of these situations that have been described in the media and in court, how can we avoid repeating them in the future?

The former PC government had previously rejected calls for an investigation on the grounds that the police headquarters was still facing legal action.

The RCMP investigation into police headquarters concluded in 2019 with no charges laid. In March 2023, a settlement was reached that required nearly 40 defendants to pay the city between $21.5 million and $28 million, depending on how quickly the money was paid. The city has since dismissed its lawsuits against dozens of people and businesses, leaving the contractor, Caspian and the defendants tied to Caspian. responsible for all payment.

Meanwhile, the Manitoba Court of Appeal has dismissed Phil Sheegl’s appeal against a Court of King’s Bench that ruled the former Winnipeg general manager accepted a $327,200 bribe from the part of Armik Babkhanians from Caspian and had failed in his duties as a public officer by favoring Caspian in the attribution of the primary. construction contract between police and HQ.

Manitoba recognizes first responders in Carberry crash, confirms focus of police headquarters investigation

The province has inducted 134 first responders into the Order of the Bison Hunt for their courage following the fatal Carberry crash that killed 17 people in June 2023. Additionally, the government said its investigation into the Winnipeg police headquarters scandal would not examine other real estate. and construction projects in the city.