The Progressive Conservatives will co-operate with an investigation by the elections commissioner after a $3,800 election campaign expense for a car rental showed up on an invoice from a company offering the services of an “intimacy coach.”
“We will definitely co-operate with the commissioner,” interim PC leader Wayne Ewasko told reporters Monday after the issue was raised during question period in the legislature, and the NDP requested an investigation into an alleged violation of the Election Financing Act.
When Midland MLA Lauren Stone asked the NDP government how it plans to address rural crime, Finance Minister Adrien Sala brought up a media report from the weekend in which a former PC party accountant called out a $3,800 invoice for a car rental on letterhead from a company called “Lucid Vitality” that offers intimacy coaching.
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Interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, Wayne Ewasko: “We will definitely co-operate with the commissioner.”
“The member should explain why a PC party accountant has shared emails that show senior party officials falsifying financial records in the last campaign,” Sala said, referring to Ewasko.
After question period, the PC leader said an urgent meeting was held with party management early Sunday to get answers.
“I wasn’t happy at all,” Ewasko said. “I was actually angry.” He said he confirmed that the $3,800 expense was for a Jeep rental for PC party staff to use during the 2023 election campaign. A corrected invoice was submitted to Elections Manitoba in February or March ahead of the deadline for campaign expense disclosures, Ewasko said.
The corrected invoice on letterhead from Chelsy Brause dated Aug. 17, 2023 doesn’t provide any detail or description other than “car rental” with a total price of $3,800.
“The owner of the company has a few companies,” said Ewasko.
A YouTube video promoting one of Brause’s ventures is entitled “Embracing Somatic Healing & Sexual Energy” that “emphasizes understanding oneself before exploring intimacy with others. It’s not solely about sexual intercourse but a deeper connection and self-awareness.” Her website describes her as a life coach and somatic sexologist.
Ewasko said no intimacy coaching services were expensed.
“Not from what I know,” he said.
In the house, the NDP finance minister said he read that there were “several invoices paid by the PC party which raised suspicions of questionable accounting practices.”
”It’s critical (Ewasko) share that information, given the fact that Manitobans would have to pay for them as part of the election rebate,” Sala said.
Candidates and registered parties may be reimbursed for up to 25 per of their eligible election expenses.
The PC party is on track for a reimbursement of $356,487.22, according to Elections Manitoba. An NDP omnibus bill that’s before the house includes a measure that would increase that reimbursement to 50 per cent.
“The PC party we know has a history of not following the rules,” Sala said in the chamber, citing the outcome of the 2021 Tory leadership race that was challenged in court. A judge ruled there appeared to be some irregularities, but nothing that would’ve changed the outcome that resulted in former premir Heather Stefanson’s election as leader.
Ewasko said the party is already looking into how it handled the provincial election and the byelection in Tuxedo, which had been a Tory stronghold until June, when the New Democrats won the seat Stefanson vacated.
The party is also reviewing expenses and how it handles concerns when they are raised to ensure they are brought forward and are “addressed quickly, professionally,” he said.
“I want to make sure our members and Manitobans are confident we’re moving forward, bringing a more transparent, accountable party to the table and we’re going to be getting results,” said Ewasko, who has ruled out running for the party’s leadership, which will be deciced in April.
“It’s taxpayer dollars. It’s donor dollars. It’s members’ dollars, so we have to be accountable and transparent with what we’re doing with the elections or byelections.”
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.
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