In 1998, Manitoba’s Conservative government was oozing confidence and appeared certain to cruise to re-election under Premier Gary Filmon. But when a local radio reporter began to investigate rumours about Conservative dirty tricks in the last provincial election, he broke open the scandal that led to a riveting public inquiry, and ultimately to the fall of the government.
The Conservatives’ vote-splitting scheme was equal parts detective story and comedy of errors, tragedy and farce. Because it had occurred in the hardscrabble Interlake region, carried out by a wildly eccentric cast of characters, some media commentators dismissed the story as a low-rent scandal conducted by political hillbillies. But in fact the caper was masterminded by the premier’s principal secretary and supported by two of the province’s most distinguished entrepreneurs.
Another lesson, as if we needed one, in the corruptions of power.”
— Martin Levin, The Globe and Mail
| Subject | Political Science/Political Process/Elections |
|---|---|
| Published | October 2003 |
| Price | $17.95 CDN |
| Pages | 248 pp (Paper) |
| Dimensions | 6″ × 9″ × 0.5″ |
| ISBN-10 | 1894037197 |
| ISBN-13 | 9781894037198 |
