According to a series of letters tabled Monday night at a committee hearing, the NDP's then-provincial secretary Tom Milne wrote to Elections Manitoba to complain about a chartered accountant hired to investigate allegations the NDP had improperly filed campaign expenses.

"It has become quite clear to the NDP that Mr. [David Asselstine] is firmly of the view that the party has conducted itself improperly..." Milne wrote to Elections Manitoba in September 2002. "Whether or not Mr. Asselstine's views result in charges being laid remains to be seen, however it is clear that he believes we have in some way, shape or form violated the Elections Finance Act."

In a later letter sent in 2003, Asselstine said the NDP repeatedly complained to Elections Manitoba about his investigation into the 1999 campaign paperwork. He wrote that Milne even threatened to "take every step possible to ensure that Asselstine would never get another cent of the government's money for work."