Manitoba Premier Kinew nearly equals former premier Pallister in out-of-province travel spending

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew spent roughly the same amount of money on out-of-province travel expenses during the first six months the NDP government was in power as former premier Brian Pallister did during the first six months of his PC government.

Travel expenses posted Tuesday show Kinew spent $8,917.65 on travel outside the province during the six months after he was sworn in on Oct. 17, 2023.

Kinew travelled to meet withother premiers, attend the 2023 Grey Cupin Hamilton and pay respects at the funerals of former prime minister Brian Mulroney and former federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent.

That spending mirrored $8,970.34 in out-of-province travel expenses disclosed by Pallister during the first six months after he was sworn in as Manitoba's premier on May 3, 2016. Pallistertravelled tomeetwith other premiers and attend a joint session of parliament with then-U.S. president Barack Obama.

Former premier Heather Stefanson was sworn intooffice on Nov. 2, 2021, five years into the seven-year PC government. She made one out-of-province trip during her first six months in office, spending $2,053 on a meeting with Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Kinew's office posted the first six months of his out-of-province travelexpenses following repeated requestsfrom media, includingCBC News and the Winnipeg Free Press.

The disclosure of that spendingis usually proactive and routine.