Trade minister promises to tout Manitoba’s strengths

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/04/2018 (2767 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

International Trade Minister François-Philippe Champagne vowed Wednesday to share the Manitoba economy’s “best-kept secrets” with the world.

Describing himself as “the chief marketing officer of Canada,” Champagne told a news conference at the provincial legislature his “job is to share with the world some of the best-kept secrets” of what is happening in Manitoba.

“We need to start bragging about the great things we do in Winnipeg,” the Liberal MP for Saint-Maurice-Champlain said.

He refused to say who is responsible if the federal government has, to this point, not been promoting Manitoba’s industries to the world.

Champagne and provincial Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen also wouldn’t say why Manitoba’s potential exports are such a “secret.”

Champagne said he’s in the province for three days, touring Manitoba industries (primarily aerospace and agriculture).

The federal minister said he’s connecting Manitoba companies with opportunities through deals such as the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

“Canada has preferential access to 1.2 billion consumers,” Champagne said. His goal is to “translate them into jobs, into prosperity for families.”

Champagne wouldn’t identify any Manitoba export industries that could be at risk over current United States positions in the ongoing North American Free Trade Agreement talks.

“I’m not talking about risks, I’m talking about opportunities,” he said. “My take on that is cautiously optimistic.”

Pedersen said the trade agreements “offer real potential for Manitoba businesses to grow. It is critical we have predictable and open access.”

He said Manitoba’s export markets grew by $360 million last year.

Pedersen said the ministers need to work with industries to help them understand the trade agreements and the opportunities they offer.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca