Mayor recommends David Asper as new Winnipeg Police Board chair

WINNIPEG – Mayor Brian Bowman is recommending that businessman and philanthropist, David Asper to be Winnipeg’s new police board chair.

Bowman announced his recommendation Wednesday morning. Coun. Jeff Browaty stepped down from the position in February following controversial comments he made about residential schools.

Asper donated $1,500 to Bowman’s mayoral election in 2014, which is the maximum amount someone can donate.

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READ MORE: Mayor accepts Jeff Browaty’s resignation as Winnipeg Police Board chair

Asper currently chairs The Asper Foundation and is the co-founder of Amenity Health Care. He once served as chair of the Winnipeg Football Club, Winnipeg Folk Festival and as the first chair of CentreVenture.

He successfully represented David Milgaard in one of Canada’s best-known wrongful conviction cases.

Bowman also named Canadian Footwear owner Brian Scharfstein as a new board member, replacing Derek Johannson, who resigned in March.

Asper’s and Scharfstein’s appointments are subject to a background check. If approved by council, their appointments would be effective immediately and their term would expire Dec.31, 2018.