Findings of Winnipeg police HQ inquiry a ‘total catastrophe’: Kinew

A public inquiry is a formal investigation set up by government to examine important public matters. It gathers evidence, reviews decisions, and produces findings and recommendations. Its purpose is to explain what happened and identify changes that could prevent similar problems. In Winnipeg, the inquiry focused on the downtown headquarters project and the city’s ability to manage large, publicly funded construction effectively.

The investigation examined the purchase and conversion of the former Canada Post building at Smith Street and Graham Avenue. It considered the project’s costs, including why the renovation estimate grew from $135 million to $214 million. The inquiry also reviewed the conduct of people involved in the project and whether public money was properly handled.

The province formally launched the probe in February 2025. Commissioner Garth Smorang led it after the City of Winnipeg requested a public inquiry, following multiple lawsuits. Premier Wab Kinew reviewed the report and said it found serious misconduct, fabricated invoices, and misappropriated funds. The report was expected by the end of the following week.

The former Canada Post building’s renovation was initially expected to cost $135 million. The project eventually reached $214 million. That means the final cost was $79 million higher than the city’s original renovation estimate, showing a major breakdown between the early budget and the eventual spending.

The figures concern the conversion of the former Canada Post building into a new downtown Winnipeg Police Service headquarters. Work connected to purchasing the building began in 2008, and the project was planned and built over eight years. Its location is at Smith Street and Graham Avenue. The cost increase became part of a broader public inquiry after multiple lawsuits were filed.

The report also identified a separate reported overpayment of approximately $43.3 million. Kinew said that, without this overpayment, the project would actually have been on budget. The article does not explain every difference between the $135-million estimate, the $214-million final cost, and the reported overpayment. Global News had not seen the report itself.

The reported $43.3-million overpayment is a finding that the project paid approximately $43.3 million beyond what should have been paid. It is significant because Premier Wab Kinew said the project would have been on budget if that overpayment had not occurred. The figure therefore links the project’s financial problems to spending decisions, not only to construction costs.

Kinew did not explain how the inquiry commissioner calculated the amount. He said the figure was determined after a forensic accountant reviewed the case. That kind of review examines financial records and transactions to identify questionable payments or discrepancies. The article does not provide the accountant’s name, the individual transactions, or the exact calculation behind the total.

The reported amount came from the public inquiry into the headquarters project. The inquiry’s full report had not been seen by Global News when the article was published. Kinew said the findings included misconduct, fabricated invoices, and misappropriated funds. The province planned to accept all recommendations, although it had not disclosed them.

The inquiry report reportedly found misconduct by people who were involved in the headquarters project. Premier Wab Kinew also said it contained proof of fabricated invoices and misappropriated funds. These findings matter because they suggest that the project’s problems may have involved improper behaviour and financial controls, not simply an inaccurate construction estimate.

The article gives only broad categories, not detailed examples. It does not identify which invoices were fabricated, who created or approved them, how funds were misappropriated, or how much money each issue involved. Kinew said the inquiry found misconduct from people who were around at the time, but he did not name them or explain their individual roles.

The full report was not available to Global News when the article was published. The province intended to release it by the end of the following week at the latest. Kinew said Manitoba would accept all recommendations. Until the report is released, the article supports describing the findings as reported allegations or inquiry conclusions, rather than assigning specific blame.

The report could have consequences for Winnipeg officials and the systems used to manage public construction. Findings of misconduct, fabricated invoices, and misappropriated funds may lead to greater public scrutiny and demands for accountability. However, the article does not identify individual penalties, criminal charges, dismissals, or other legal consequences.

For the Winnipeg Police Service, the report could affect confidence in the headquarters project and in the way major facilities are planned and managed. For taxpayers, the reported $43.3-million overpayment raises concerns about whether public money was properly protected. Kinew said the project would have been on budget without that overpayment, connecting the finding directly to public costs.

The province said it will accept all recommendations in the report. Those recommendations were not disclosed in the article, so their practical effect remains unknown. The report’s release before the municipal election could also influence how voters judge city management. Any confirmed disciplinary or legal consequences would depend on details not provided here.

Premier Wab Kinew initially planned to release the report after Winnipeg’s October 28 municipal election. He changed course because he believed voters should see its findings before casting their ballots. The decision reflects his view that the headquarters project was not only a past construction issue, but also evidence relevant to how the city is run.

Kinew said the report addressed how Winnipeg gets projects built and how taxpayer dollars are respected. That connection mattered because the inquiry reportedly found a $43.3-million overpayment, along with misconduct, fabricated invoices, and misappropriated funds. Voters could therefore consider the report when assessing city leadership and the management of public projects.

The report was expected to be released by the end of the following week at the latest. Global News had not seen it, and the city had been asked for a response. Kinew said Manitoba would accept all recommendations, but he did not reveal what they were. The timing was presented as a transparency decision before the election.

Large publicly funded projects are normally planned in stages. Governments define the need, compare options, estimate costs, set a realistic contingency, and approve a budget before construction. They also establish decision authority, schedules, performance targets, and public reporting requirements. Independent reviews can test whether the proposed project remains affordable before major commitments are made.

Procurement usually uses clear specifications, competitive bidding, documented evaluations, conflict-of-interest rules, and written contracts. During construction, managers track invoices, change orders, milestones, and payments against the approved budget. Inspectors confirm that work was completed, while finance staff separate approval and payment duties. Internal audits and forensic reviews can test records and identify unusual transactions or false billing.

These safeguards cannot guarantee that costs will never rise, but they can expose problems earlier and create accountability. The Winnipeg inquiry reported a $43.3-million overpayment, fabricated invoices, and misappropriated funds, showing why such controls matter. The article does not say which controls failed or what recommendations were made, so specific reforms remain unknown.