Itinerary released for GG’s visit to Winnipeg

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This article was published 22/11/2018 (2666 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — The Governor General will touch down in Winnipeg on Monday and visit military, Indigenous and francophone groups as she checks the last province off her list.

Rideau Hall released Julie Payette’s two-day itinerary for the keystone province Thursday, laying out a whirlwind schedule months after her provincial counterparts suggested a visit this year would not be possible.

Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon and Premier Brian Pallister will receive Payette at the legislature with a 21-gun salute by 17 Wing members Monday morning.

After two hours, she’ll head to Université de Saint-Boniface to celebrate its 200th anniversary and meet with nursing students.

She’ll also give a speech and take in some fiddling at the francophone cultural celebration at Fort Gibraltar.

After lunch, she’ll visit to the University of Manitoba to look at food and Arctic research.

That evening, Filmon will host a reception at Government House “to meet and speak with key provincial leaders and with people who have contributed to their communities.”

Payette will also take a walk in the North End with Bear Clan patrol volunteers.

Tuesday morning, Payette will tour the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and meet with crew members at 17 Wing, with a focus on their transport and rescue missions. Payette will likely head home in the afternoon.

There are no plans for Payette, a former scientist, to visit the National Microbiology Laboratory, hailed for its role in developing an Ebola vaccine. Rideau Hall said they attempted to arrange a visit but it was not possible.

Pallister broke the news of Payette’s visit on Oct. 18, on Twitter, writing that the vice-regal will would visit Manitoba on Nov. 25 to 27; the itinerary released Thursday says the visit only starts on Nov. 26.

Payette’s announced visit will be an about-face, following sustained media scrutiny over her work ethic, such as shirking some of the ceremonial duties that make up a gruelling schedule for the vice-regal, and resisting weekend duties.

Tradition holds that most governors general visit all provinces and territories within roughly their first 12 months; Payette reached that milestone in early October, and visited Saskatchewan shortly thereafter.

Manitoba is her last province to visit, while she has not made plans to visit the Yukon.

An Angus-Reid poll earlier this month found Manitobans had diverging opinions about Payette, with 28 per cent deeming her “poorly suited” for the job, and 22 per cent saying she “will eventually settle” into it.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca