Brian Pallister's Costa Rica travel records denounced by Manitoba party leaders

As the Manitoba election campaign enters its last days, NDP Leader Greg Selinger and Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari took swings at Brian Pallister over the amount of time the PC leader has spent in Costa Rica since he was elected as an MLA in 2012.

Public records show Pallister spent about 240 days either travelling to or in Costa Rica, as CBC first reported Thursday. Pallister's latest trip to Costa Rica was earlier this year, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 10.

None of Pallister's Costa Rica trips occurred when the legislature was sitting, although a two-week trip occurred during the height of the 2014 flood.

Later that year, when asked by the Winnipeg Free Press about where he was during the flood, Pallister responded, "I was at a family wedding in Alberta in July; the first week of July was when the unprecedented rainfall occurred one day in parts of western Manitoba." A PC Party spokesperson said Thursday that the wedding took place June 28, the day before Pallister flew to Costa Rica.

Selinger said on Thursday it is significant Pallister did not mention Costa Rica when asked where he was during the disaster.

"Mr. Pallister knew that is was not accurate that he was at a wedding in Alberta and did not put the correct information on the record when he was asked about it, and I think now is the time for him to level and come forward to Manitobans about that," said Selinger.

Selinger said leaders should be available during all times of crisis.

"There are times in everybody's life when you are in a position of leadership when you have to step up and be there for people," said Selinger.

The NDP leader spent an estimated 50 days away during the same time period, primarily on weekends and holidays at a cottage with his family, said an NDP spokesperson.

Bokhari warned Pallister could become a "part-time premier" if the PCs form the next provincial government.

Bokhari said that "240 days is a lot of days to not be in your province. Frankly, I think it's insulting."

Since becoming Liberal leader in October 2013, Bokhari was out of the province for nine vacation days and an additional 18 days attending Liberal Party functions, a party spokesman said.

"If you have the honour of being in that legislature and to not value that when you already have it, you don't have the right to be the premier," she said.