Peter Ginakes

In a bold move, the Manitoba government wielded an unusual legislative power to squash a $7.4-million lawsuit. This legal drama, initiated by Peter Ginakes and associates, stemmed from a scrapped 20-year lease for a facility catering to at-risk youth. The twist came in February, when a Court of Queen's Bench justice axed the lawsuit, citing a specific 2019 provincial law.

A Rare Legislative Play

This law, crafted in 2019, allowed the government to wriggle free from the 800 Adele Ave. lease. More intriguingly, it blocked any subsequent legal challenges. Legal buffs note that this kind of governmental power play is rare. Justice Theodor Bock highlighted this unique legislation as the basis for his decision to dismiss the lawsuit, emphasizing its explicit and definitive wording.

Unsettling Implications

Dave Hill, a senior partner at Hill Sokalski Walsh, expressed alarm at the government's abrupt contract termination. He argued that a government-backed lease should symbolize stability and security, not uncertainty and abrupt cancellations.

Controversy at 800 Adele

The lawsuit's dismissal followed a labyrinth of motions and appeals linked to the contentious legislation. The 800 Adele Ave. saga has been mired in controversy, especially after a 2016 audit revealed significant irregularities, including a lease cost suspiciously double the market rate.

Troubled Lease History

Initially, the lease involved the Southern First Nations Network of Care and a company owning the 800 Adele Ave. property. Marymound sub-leased the 18,000-square-foot facility for housing vulnerable youth. With the Southern Authority, overseeing multiple child services agencies, footing the bill, the lease seemed secure. But the political undercurrents were strong, with accusations that the Progressive Conservative government's actions were motivated by vindictiveness against Ginakes for his involvement in the Tiger Dams scandal under the previous NDP administration.

A Political Web

The lease, approved by lawyers of the then-NDP government, was signed in 2008. The Southern Authority's annual lease payment was a hefty $500,000. The lawsuit, now dismissed, painted the Conservative government's actions as retaliatory, suggesting a deeper political rivalry at play.