MLA booted from caucus alleges he was asked to ‘lie for Wab,’ discredit PC account of tense handshake in 2023

A Manitoba MLA recently expelled from the government caucus says he was punished for refusing to publicly back his party leader’s explanation of a tense exchange in the legislature in 2023.

Mark Wasyliw, who was ousted from the NDP caucus last week, said Monday he was asked to refute Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Obby Khan for accusing NDP leader Wab Kinew of swearing at him and shoving him during an extended handshake.

Kinew denied Khan’s allegation, saying there was only a “tense verbal exchange.”

While addressing reporters gathered in the lobby where his law office is located on Monday, Wasyliw said he was seated behind the men during the handshake, which happened at an April 2023 public event to mark Turban Day.

Later in the day, the Fort Garry MLA says he received a call from party spokesperson Rebecca Widdicombe, who asked him to “go on social media and basically refute MLA Obby Khan’s claims and to basically cast aspersions.”

Wasyliw said he told his colleague he wouldn’t do that because, based on his observations, he saw Kinew acting inappropriately. 

He alleges, in speaking Monday, Kinew grabbed Khan’s hand and pulled it toward his body, looking “angry and agitated and he was doing most of the talking,” while Khan appeared “shocked and horrified.” He added Khan was trying to leave, but Kinew was “holding him in place.”

Refusal to follow NDP’s position

He said he relayed his account to Widdicombe.

“I told them that I would not lie for Wab and that if the media had asked me, I would give them the version of events that I just gave you,” Wasyliw said.

“Her response to me was, ‘Well, we don’t want that.'”

He said Monday he believes Kinew’s actions during the handshake reached the legal definition of assault.

The NDP government didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kinew now serves as premier and Widdicombe as deputy chief of staff. Khan is running for leader of the Progressive Conservatives.

WATCH | Security camera captures Kinew-Khan exchange:

Wasyliw alleges he was further pushed out of the party after refusing to criticize Khan’s account of the handshake. He said he stopped being called upon as a media spokesperson and wasn’t invited to participate in election debates despite the lawyer being, in his opinion, the “most experienced debater” in caucus.

He said the NDP didn’t ask him to speak at the pre-election environment announcement, despite being the environment critic, and didn’t ask him to introduce the election announcement in his constituency, despite running in that constituency.

He did, however, lead an attack-style pre-election news conference in which the NDP alleged the PCs were improperly using government resources. He was also the NDP’s spokesperson on issues surrounding the Sio Silica controversy. 

Wasyliw said he’s speaking out now because he’ll no longer face repercussions from the NDP.

“It was not a safe atmosphere. It was toxic and hostile in the caucus and had I come forward, I absolutely would have been expelled from caucus,” he said.

Still, Wasyliw said he’s “deeply ashamed” for initially refusing to speak, apologizing to his constituents in Fort Garry and Khan.

He said he met with Khan last Friday, where he offered his regrets. Khan’s leadership campaign accepted the apology. 

Wasyliw said Khan was “telling the truth, and my caucus knew it. And yet they cast aspersions on him. They attempted a character assassination and created a social media pile-on. He didn’t deserve any of that.”

Wasyliw said he’s confident in backing Khan’s telling of events, despite not hearing what was said during the exchange, nor witnessing the alleged shove from Kinew, since Wasyliw said his view was obstructed at the time.

Several NDP MLAs, who were seated near Kinew at the event, wrote in social media posts at the time they witnessed no aggressiveness. Khan’s accusations are “baseless and unbecoming,” Nello Altomare said on Twitter. Lisa Naylor tweeted Khan’s accusation “plays on racist tropes.”

Wasyliw said his own silence at the time speaks volumes.

“I was also what people have termed an ‘attack dog'” in the legislature, he said. “It was kind of strange that the attack dog, who’s the main witness of this, was silent. Nobody seemed to ask the question about that.”

At the time of the incident, Kinew said he criticized Khan for making partisan comments at the NDP-organized Turban Day event, but did not swear at him or shove. Khan said Kinew swore repeatedly and was aggressive in a way that left him shaken.

No shove seen in video

A video released later by the Speaker’s office, shot from a security camera, doesn’t include audio. It shows Kinew standing up and shaking Khan’s hand while also grabbing the bicep of Khan’s arm with his other hand.

The handshake appears to go on for 20 seconds. Khan takes a step away at one point and appears to try to leave, but Kinew continues to talk to him and the handshake does not break immediately.

At one point, Khan’s back is to the camera. There is no evidence of a shove.

Wasyliw’s dismissal from the NDP caucus last week was initially attributed to his failure to “demonstrate good judgment” since a colleague at the law firm where he works is defending convicted sexual predator Peter Nygard in court.

Caucus chair Mike Moyes has since called that issue the “final straw,” but said Wasyliw showed a pattern of deceit and disrespect well before his removal.

Meanwhile, Wasyliw has called Kinew a “bully” and “dysfunctional and toxic leader” who pressures, bullies and demeans those who disagree with him. Kinew has denied Wasyliw’s claims, said he invites dissenting opinions and expressed disappointment last Tuesday that the expelled MLA has “chosen to push a lamp off the table on his way out the door.”

Wasyliw denies speaking out because he’s bitter.

“I have been getting increasingly more uncomfortable with what’s been happening at the legislature and with Wab Kinew’s leadership.”

“I’m not upset that I’ve been kicked out of the caucus. I’m not seeking to get back in, especially if he’s the leader.”

He said he’s happy to be an independent MLA who isn’t restrained by a political party’s rules.