‘Celebrate this great country’: Rally for Canada at legislature April 6

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This article was published 28/03/2025 (218 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Wab Kinew is inviting Manitobans to celebrate Canada on April 6 on the grounds of the legislature.

“We’re going to rally for Canada — send a strong message that we will never be the 51st state,” he said Friday after getting off a call with Prime Minister Mark Carney and his fellow premiers and territorial leaders regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to cripple Canada’s economy and annex the nation.

“We will always be the true north, strong and free,” Kinew said.

“In the face of what’s been a lot of uncertainty and worry, we’re given an opportunity to celebrate this great country,” the premier told reporters in his office.

“This is going to be a family-friendly event with a lot of activities for the kids,” the premier said.

Kinew said it reminds him of a rally for Canada he attended as a youngster regarding the Quebec referendum on sovereignty.

In 1995, Quebec voters were asked whether that province should become an independent country. The No side narrowly won.

“As a kid, I couldn’t tell you who spoke at that rally or who the musical artists were, but I know that there was a lot of red maple leafs and we were coming together as a country to send a strong message as to who we are,” the premier said.

“Right now, kids in classrooms that I’m visiting — above a certain age, maybe 8 or 9 years old — every single one of them asks if we’re going to become the 51st state,” he said.

“I want to send a message to young people and to our kids in particular, that this is a great country… And in spite of what you might see on TV or social media, there’s a lot of security in Canada, and we want to boost that and send a positive message to our kids,” said Kinew.

All are welcome to the free “rah rah” event from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., he said. There will be food trucks, performers, including Fred Penner, face painting and other activities for children.

“Wear red, wear your Canadian tuxedo. Let’s keep it positive… Come meet us at the big Canada flag at the legislative building.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca