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This article was published 14/5/2015 (1956 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Progressive Conservatives have asked the provincial auditor to investigate the construction of Investors Group Field.

On May 5, ‎Opposition Leader Brian Pallister formally asked acting auditor general Norm Ricard to conduct a value-for-money audit of the 33,500-seat stadium, which was completed at the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus in 2013.

The stadium's budget rose from ‎an initial estimate of $115 million to $209 million. It suffered from construction and design deficiencies that included improper drainage, cracking concrete, uninsulated pipes, improper fireproofing and initially, a press box left open to the elements. All of the concrete concourses will be torn out and replaced over the next year.

Pallister said in his letter Manitobans deserve to know whether public ‎funds were squandered, given that the province is the primary funder of the project.

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MELISSA TAIT / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The sun sets during the inaugural game at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg on June 27, 2013.

He would not go as far as to repeat an allegation of provincial interference in the project made by Phil Sheegl‎, the former chairman of Triple B Stadium, the stadium-owning shell company representing the city, province, U of M and Winnipeg Football Club.

In 2014, Sheegl said the Selinger government ignored design deficiencies ‎when it made the decision to proceed with construction in advance of the 2011 provincial election.

Stadium contractor Stuart Olson repeated this allegation in a statement of defense against a lawsuit from Triple B, which alleges the construction company and ‎architect Ray Wan are responsible for construction and design deficiencies at the stadium.

Steve Ashton, Manitoba's Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation and the NDP's deputy house leader, would not respond to Sheegl's allegation of provincial interference on the stadium file.

Ashton said he has not read the construction reports about the stadium and instructed reporters to speak to Ron Lemieux‎, the minister responsible for tourism, culture, heritage, sport and consumer protection.

Lemieux is in Saskatoon, Ashton said.