Kinew hits all the right business notes during speech

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This article was published 24/05/2023 (876 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wab Kinew promised he would avoid typical electioneering rhetoric in a speech to the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday and then hit all the right business notes in front of a full house at the Fort Garry Hotel.

At the outset he said one of his fundamental political beliefs was, “The economic horse pulls the social cart.”

Speaking for more than 20 minutes without notes, Kinew didn’t necessarily present any economic development ideas that have not been considered or explored in the past, but he went out of his way to convey to the traditional business crowd that if the Manitoba NDP forms the next government it will make sure it provides responsible governance when it comes to the economy.

For starters, he said if he forms the next government he will balance the budget within his first term.

“It is very important to me that in good economic times that the provincial budget is balanced,” he said. “The Manitoba NDP team will balance the budget within the first term in office. That is my commitment to you and I expect you to hold me to it.”

He acknowledged there remains plenty of uncertainty in the global economy and that some experts still believe there are “storm clouds” on the horizon, but the province’s diversified economy might allow it to fare better than others.

“A Manitoba NDP government will be responsible stewards of that provincial economy, and we will ensure that there is the right environment for us to be competitive and successful,” he said.

One of his government prime targets for that type of stewardship would be to develop the province’s role in mining critical minerals currently in high demand because of the global de-carbonization process, he said.

He referenced comments that the U.S. Ambassador to Canada made to him some months ago about how “foreign adversaries” were getting control of so much of those resources around the world.

He emphasized the role Manitoba Hydro can play, with its cheap, green hydroelectricity, and said his team would promote its use in advancing value-added manufacturing and processing opportunities.

When asked if there were any particular strategies he thought he might deploy in the resource sector, he said he would ensure that Manitoba proponents are able to take advantage of all the available federal incentives.

He also pointed out that the NDP already holds the seats in the province where mining takes place and there were things that could be done to advance relationships between industry and Indigenous communities, something the industry at large is increasingly engaged in.

“The provincial government can play a really important role in helping to build those relationships and making sure there is clarity regarding what is the role of business and what is the role of government,” Kinew said.

He spent quite a bit of time in his speech talking about the importance of improving the health care system in the province and the role a healthy economy can play in that.

Loren Remillard, the president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, said it is highly probable that health care reform will be a hot topic in this fall’s election.

“Everyone expects that but we can’t lose sight that someone has to pay that bill,” Remillard said.

“We need to make sure that in fixing health care we don’t put the economy in the ICU.”

The business community and everyone in the province wants the provincial government to address health care reform based on the evidence and data and not viewed through “an ideological lens,” he said.

Kinew’s declaration about the economic horse pulling the social cart is something the business community is looking for from any government, Remillard said.

“Without a growing economy all the other aspects that we are talking about are theoretical,” he said.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca