Liberals question whether PCs properly vetted candidate Kevin Klein over ties to Peter Nygard

ManitobaLiberal Leader Dougald Lamont is questioning whether Kevin Klein is fit to serve as a government MLA because of his time working with Peter Nygard, theformer fashion mogul now accused of sexual assault.

Lamont argued on Friday that Klein, the Progressive Conservative candidate in next month's Kirkfield Park byelection, needs to explainthework he did for Nygard, and the PCs should answer why, in Lamont's words,they"have no problem with it."

"Everybodyshould be concerned about the fact that there is a candidate in the election whoworked for Peter Nygard," Lamont told reporters after question period.

The former Winnipeg citycouncillorandmayoral candidate brieflyworked for Nygardat two different points: for four months in2012 and for two weeks in December 2013. Klein handledcommunicationsand worked in a government-relations rolefor a biotech company partially owned by Nygard.

Sexual assault allegations against Nygardsurfaced in a class-action lawsuit in early 2020.

Nygard,the former head of a multimillion-dollar clothing company,has been in custody sinceDecember 2020, when he was arrested at a Winnipeg home after he was charged with ninesex-related counts in New York. Hefacesextradition to the United Stateson those charges.

He is also now accused of 11 counts of sexual assault and three counts of forcible confinement in Toronto, related to allegations fromthe late 1980s and mid-2000s, and has been charged withone count each ofsexual assault and forcible confinement in Quebec.

Klein slamsLiberals for insinuating wrongdoing

In an interview Friday, Klein accused Lamont of "insinuating that I had done something illegal" by suggesting he shouldn't be running in the upcoming byelection.

"I've answered this question.I worked for him for less than four months. I left because my integrity wouldn't allow me to work for somebody like that," Klein said.

"It's just disappointing to seethis is how politicians want to use their time while being paid by taxpayers. I prefer to talk about the issues that are most important to Manitobans and more important to those in Kirkfield Park."

Klein has previously described the allegations against Nygard as grotesque and said they angered him when he learned of them.

But he said he saw nothing untoward when he made two visits to Nygard's estate in the Bahamas,both times with his wife.

Klein said he quit working forNygard because he did not like the way he conducted business.

During the recent mayoral campaign, in which he finishedthird, Kleinexpressed frustration that pictures of himwith Nygard some genuine and some he describes as doctoredcontinued to circulateon social media.

Despite Klein's position, Lamont alleged the Progressive Conservatives did not properly vet their nominee, who recently portrayed himself as the mayoral candidate to tackleWinnipeg's escalating crime rate.

"The anti-crimePC candidate is trying to make a big fuss about how tough on crime he wants to be when he workedfor Peter Nygard," Lamont said.

"He would never be allowed to run under my leadership in a million years."

Lakeside MLA Ralph Eichler, who sits on the PC's candidate selection committee, said Lamont is cooking up "baselessconspiracies."

"Mr. Klein went through a vigorous vetting process when becoming chair of the Winnipeg Police Service [board], and again more recently went through our internal vetting process before becoming our PC candidate," Eichler said in an email.

The NDP also questioned the PC's support of Klein.

"Mr Klein's work for Nygard in 2012 and 2014 were revealed even before his mayoral campaign. For Manitobans, it was a red flag about Mr. Klein's judgment but not for the premier and her party apparently," a party spokesperson said.

The Kirkfield Park byelection, which will fill the seat left vacant afterScott Fieldingresignedin June, take place on Dec. 13.

Four candidatesKlein, the NDP'sLogan Oxenham, Liberal candidateRhonda Nichol and the Green Party'sDennis Bayomi will vie for theseat.