Ashton challenges NDP leadership rival to release tax return; Kinew accepts

NDP leadership candidates Steve Ashton and Wab Kinew both say they will release summaries of their tax returns in the coming days.

In an announcement on Wednesday, Ashton — a long time NDP cabinet minister who was defeated in the last election — challenged Kinew to release his tax return in an apparent attempt to underscore the refusal of Premier Brian Pallister to do so in the 2016 election campaign.

"I would urge Wab Kinew to do the same so that we can send the clear message that we, as New Democrats, believe in transparency, in sharp contrast to the Pallister PC," the announcement said.

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Asked whether this announcement was part of a campaign strategy against Kinew, Ashton responded that this is "about transparency first, not what may or may not be on a return".

Kinew to release as well

Kinew said he has no problem releasing his tax return, adding he will need a few days to assemble the information.

"I've always been transparent and because I am an elected official who holds public office right now, all my sources of income — my land holdings, gifts that I receive — are all declared in my conflict-of-interest form, which is up to date," Kinew said. "I don't think anyone should be ashamed of success. I'm proud of what I've done in my career."

Last year, Kinew received some criticism for continuing to receive payment for speaking engagements in the months following his election victory. Kinew said that, with the exception of a few engagements he committed to prior to entering the political sphere, he has not accepted remuneration for presentations.

Ashton worked 4 months in 2016

Since his defeat in the April 2016 election, Ashton says he has not been employed.

Conflict-of-interest laws in Manitoba require retired politicians or senior officials to wait 12 months before taking a job with any organization they had some form of influence on while in office.

"Given the cooling-off regulations it was far better being safe than sorry in the sense of not running the risk of even indirectly being in violation," Ashton said.

However, that does not mean that Ashton has only lint in his pockets. MLAs who lose their seat in an election receive compensation known as the Severance-Transition allowance and are are entitled to receive the equivalent of a month's salary for each year of service, and pro-rated for part of each year of service.

Every year the Manitoba government publishes the total compensation payments received by every member of the Legislative Assembly. In the fiscal year 2015-16, Ashton — who at the time was a member of cabinet — earned nearly $123,865.

There are no compensation records available Wab Kinew as he was elected in 2016 and the report for this time-frame has yet to be published.

Ashton is expected to release his income tax statement Friday afternoon.