Kinew announces opening of Westman regional cabinet office

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This article was published 13/11/2023 (672 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — Westman residents will soon have a direct line to the provincial government.

Premier Wab Kinew was in Brandon Friday to announce the opening of the NDP’s version of the Westman regional cabinet office to make communicating to the provincial government easier for residents, business and other community organizations.

Kinew made the announcement at the Brandon Chamber of Commerce with Brandon East MLA Glen Simard, who is also minister of sport, culture and heritage.

“I want to say that when our government was elected, Manitobans sent a clear message. Manitobans sent the message that they wanted us to work together with people from all walks of life, and all regions of the province to do good things for our shared future,” Kinew told a small crowd of media and supporters.

“We are one people, we are one province, and we have one destiny that we’re going to pursue together in a good way. And today’s announcement is all about following through on that.”

The announcement, Kinew said, was Part 2 of a pair of announcements that will directly affect the Brandon area. The first, a major Hydro plan that will bring more power to the city, which was announced on Thursday, and the second, the Westman regional cabinet office.

Former Brandon School Division trustee Jason Gobeil will lead the office as the new Westman outreach co-ordinator and function as a liaison between the NDP government and the Westman region. Kinew said Gobeil will be a government employee who will bring ideas, concerns and issues directly to the provincial government.

“When you have a priority here in Brandon, that needs to be addressed by our government, when you have an issue that needs to be brought forward and attended to by the province of Manitoba … I want to encourage you to reach out to Mr. Gobeil as that front door, as that point of first contact to be able to bring not just your priorities, but also the urgent issues that you have for it to our government,” Kinew said.

The Westman regional office was something that the former Progressive Conservative government also provided. Mayor Jeff Fawcett said he used the PC’s regional cabinet office frequently and he found it a better way to reach the provincial government in a timely manor. The staff, Fawcett said, were his “direct line” to ministers and cut through a lot of processes and bureaucracy.

Fawcett said he communicated his wish for the NDP version of a Westman cabinet office when Kinew and the NDP were elected in October.

Gobeil, who has been involved in many local boards and volunteer organizations over the years, said he is eager to get started and help all people in Westman be heard. His plans are to keep regular office hours and travel throughout Westman.

“(I will) be an ear to the ground, make sure that we allow ourselves to be heard, to be listened to and to have had that message travel not just here in Westman, but right up there at the premier’s office,” Gobeil said.

“And I’m looking to be that conduit, that positive outlook that’s going to help create communications throughout Westman, and at the same time to helping that communication come outside the perimeter.”

The NDP’s version of the Westman regional cabinet office will be open to all people and all concerns, Gobeil said, and not just reserved for other levels of government and other businesses and organizations.

— Brandon Sun