Kinew, two NDP caucus members file lawsuit defence, deny defaming former party MLA Wasyliw to expel him

Premier Wab Kinew and two New Democratic Party (NDP) caucus members have denied allegations that they conspired to defame former party MLA Mark Wasyliw in order to remove him from the party. The trio, including Kinew and NDP caucus members Billie Cross and Ian Bushie, maintain they did not make any defamatory statements about Wasyliw.

Wasyliw, now an independent MLA, claims that his former law partner represented convicted sex offender Peter Nygard. He alleges that statements made by his former NDP colleagues in September 2024, linking him to Nygard or accusing him of lying, caused harm to his reputation. Wasyliw filed a lawsuit against Kinew, Bushie, and Seine River MLA Billie Cross in December of the previous year.

The defendants, in their joint statement of defence, deny all allegations. They argue that the removal of Wasyliw from caucus was not sudden or without justification and that they did not make any public statements directed at Wasyliw that were reckless, false, or defamatory. The defense emphasizes that their statements relate to matters of public interest.

They contend that the discussions within caucus and the media regarding Wasyliw's law practice, including the feasibility and advisability of maintaining both roles, were the subjects of debate.

The defendants argue that Wasyliw's decision to step away from his law practice and expand it was a public matter that attracted attention. The NDP's decision to link Wasyliw's removal to his former colleague's representation of Nygard sparked outrage from the legal profession. Kinew later apologized to Gerri Wiebe, Wasyliw's former law partner, and to defence lawyers in general.