Close X
Monday, January 13, 2025
ADVT 
National

Manitoba government promises trade office in U.S. capital to boost economy

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Dec, 2024 03:59 PM
  • Manitoba government promises trade office in U.S. capital to boost economy

The Manitoba government is planning to open a trade office in Washington, D.C., in the new year to deal with threatened United States tariffs and promote investment opportunities in provincial sectors such as mining and aerospace.

The move would bring Manitoba in line with Ontario, Alberta and some other provinces that have full-time trade representatives in the U.S. capital.

Premier Wab Kinew said Tuesday he saw the value of trade offices on a trip to Washington earlier this year with business leaders.

"You know what they asked us? 'Manitoba, where have you been the past few years?'" Kinew said in his annual state of the province speech to the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.

The government has not yet picked a person to lead the office, and they may not necessarily be a Manitoban, Kinew said.

Kinew told the business crowd he takes seriously the threat of widespread tariffs on Canadian goods from president-elect Donald Trump. The premier said the Manitoba trade office would need someone who can talk to Republicans.

"We need folks who are, dare I say it, a little Trumpy," he said, moving his hands back and forth slowly, accordion-style, as Trump has been known to do. The gesture was greeted with laughter from the audience.

Loren Remillard, president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, said business leaders noticed on the recent trip to Washington that provinces with a physical presence in the city have an advantage.

"You can't expect your friends and allies to always know your position, understand and be receptive, if you're not there physically," Remillard said.

Kinew also said Manitoba would offer financial incentives and an easier regulatory regime — details are to be determined — in order to attract U.S. investment in critical mineral development and other projects.

"If you invest in standing up new mines in Manitoba, we're going to design a provincial economic development strategy to ensure that we have the right incentives on the financial side, but also … ensuring that our regulatory regime is one that can move at the speed of business."

When pressed for details by reporters, Kinew said tax cuts are one possibility, as is a focus on promoting Manitoba's low hydroelectricity rates.

"That's a good financial incentive that we can put on the table."

The trade office was being considered before Trump was elected, Kinew added. It was recommended by the government's business advisory council, which was created last year.

Kinew also appointed former Manitoba premier and Canadian ambassador to the U.S. Gary Doer as a trade adviser shortly after winning last year's provincial election.

MORE National ARTICLES

Where will B.C.'s election be won? Even identifying the battlegrounds is tough call

Where will B.C.'s election be won? Even identifying the battlegrounds is tough call
The calculus of predicting an election and identifying its key battlegrounds is complex enough in any race, but observers of the British Columbia poll this month are facing a pair of unknown quantities that make the maths even more confounding.

Where will B.C.'s election be won? Even identifying the battlegrounds is tough call

With police at school, Vancouver Jewish community marks Oct. 7 with sadness, unease

With police at school, Vancouver Jewish community marks Oct. 7 with sadness, unease
Members of Vancouver's Jewish community say they are meeting the anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that triggered their ongoing war with profound sadness and ongoing unease. Multiple police and at least one police dog were posted outside the Talmud Torah School on Oak Street as parents dropped off their children.

With police at school, Vancouver Jewish community marks Oct. 7 with sadness, unease

Van filled with gasoline canisters is set ablaze outside Vancouver City Hall

Van filled with gasoline canisters is set ablaze outside Vancouver City Hall
Police in Vancouver say a man has been arrested after setting fire to a van filled with containers of gasoline outside City Hall.  They say in a post to social media that Vancouver Fire Rescue extinguished the blaze Sunday night and found about 100 litres of unburned gasoline in canisters inside the car. 

Van filled with gasoline canisters is set ablaze outside Vancouver City Hall

Langley restaurant destroyed in fire

Langley restaurant destroyed in fire
The executive director of the Downtown Langley Business Association says the community is rallying together after a Mexican restaurant in the city’s downtown core was destroyed by a massive fire on Saturday.  Teri James says it’s tragic to see the building in the city’s downtown core completely gone, impacting several businesses, including Viva Mexico restaurant. 

Langley restaurant destroyed in fire

Man dead after a pickup truck crashed into a bus stop in Surrey

Man dead after a pickup truck crashed into a bus stop in Surrey
A 33-year-old man died after a pickup truck crashed into a bus stop bench in Surrey where two people were waiting for a bus. Surrey RCMP say officers responded to the scene on Saturday afternoon after receiving a report of a motor vehicle collision.

Man dead after a pickup truck crashed into a bus stop in Surrey

One dead in Merritt rollover crash

One dead in Merritt rollover crash
Police in B-C say one person is dead and four others are injured following a serious single-vehicle rollover near Merritt. R-C-M-P say they were called to the scene at around 3:50 p.m. Saturday after receiving a report of a serious vehicle incident on Highway 5 north of Juliet Road. 

One dead in Merritt rollover crash