Congrats, Carney — now keep your promises: Winnipeg biz community

Political and business leaders in Manitoba congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney for his election win, then put his government on notice to keep its promises and boost the economy.

“If there’s going to be a Team Canada approach, we have to make sure First Nations are at the table,” Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said Tuesday after congratulating Carney.

First Nations need to be involved in negotiating international trade and “nation-building” projects that Carney has promised, said the chief who was born and raised in Pinaymootang First Nation.

One of the promises the new prime minister made on the campaign trail was to double the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program from $5 billion to $10 billion to make it easier for more communities to have a greater share in the benefits of major resource, transportation, and trade projects.

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said having a Liberal government return to office is an opportunity to make progress on developing housing in the city, and the massive upgrade to the north end sewage treatment plant.

The mayor said Carney has committed to maintaining the housing accelerator fund agreement that’s been “very important to the City of Winnipeg to incentivize some key developments of residential units where we need residential housing.”

Gillingham also congratulated Winnipeg South Liberal Terry Duguid on his re-election, saying the MP worked closely with the city on funding for the $3-billion sewage plant upgrade.

“We’re looking forward to continuing our conversation and efforts to find a funding mechanism and sources for that project.”

Gillingham said he wants Carney to get rid of U.S. tariffs or reduce them to protect jobs and to promote interprovincial trade that presents opportunities for Winnipeg.

“We’re at the centre, geographically, of our nation,” Gillingham said.

“So much trade does and will continue to flow east to west through Winnipeg as we move product to market across our nation — it’s running right through our city. We continue as a city and as a province to play a key role in Canada’s economy.”

“We continue as a city and as a province to play a key role in Canada’s economy.”–Mayor Scott Gillingham

The federal government needs to get the provinces to the table and agree to remove trade barriers, echoed Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president Loren Remillard.

“In today’s day and age it seems really counterproductive, as we’re struggling internationally with relations and some of the economic challenges associated with that, that we have these artificial barriers to our own economic well-being within Canada,” Remillard said. “These are the things that are within our own control.”

Remillard said increased productivity in the business community and public sector is needed to navigate the trade waters, noting the use of artificial intelligence would be key.

The provincial director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business agreed that removing trade barriers is crucial to Canada’s economy.

“Manitoba’s small businesses are looking to the new government to follow through on its campaign promises, particularly around dropping the increase in the capital gains inclusion rate, removing the consumer carbon tax and knocking down interprovincial trade barriers,” said Brianna Solberg.

“So far, only three provinces — Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island — have introduced legislation to remove internal trade barriers on a reciprocal basis,” she said. That’s set the stage for a freer trade zone among those three provinces.

“Manitoba’s inaction on this means local businesses and workers will miss out on improved access to new Canadian markets,” Solberg said.

“Manitoba’s small businesses are looking to the new government to follow through on its campaign promises.”–Brianna Solberg

Premier Wab Kinew was not available for an interview on Tuesday but took to social media to congratulate Carney, posting a photo of the two of them in the premier’s office. “We look forward to building up this country with you.”

Kinew later posted a goodbye to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who announced he would step down after his party’s poor election showing.

“Tough day for New Democrats across the country. Thank you, Jagmeet Singh, for your years of service and for standing up for working people. You led with the values we both share: fairness, justice, and compassion,” Kinew wrote.

Newly elected Manitoba Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan was also unavailable for an interview but issued a statement congratulating Carney and all who ran for office, while thanking those who took the time to vote.

He said his focus is on holding Kinew and the NDP to account and ensuring access to quality and timely health care, making communities safer, life more affordable and Manitoba’s economy stronger.

— with files from Joyanne Pursaga and Gabrielle Piché

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter

Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.

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