Manitoba Minute: Issue 70

Manitoba Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Manitoba politics.

📅 This Week In Manitoba: 📅

• Thanks to your advocacy, a byelection in the Manitoba constituency of Spruce Woods has finally been scheduled for August 26th, with advance voting set to begin on August 16th. The seat has been vacant since March 24th, when former PC MLA Grant Jackson resigned to pursue federal politics. The delay in calling the byelection - and a flurry of spending announcements - prompted criticism from the Progressive Conservatives, who accused the NDP government of stalling for political advantage. The NDP has nominated Ray Berthelette, a Brandon real estate agent, to run in the traditionally conservative riding. The PCs have chosen Colleen Robbins, a former volunteer, while teacher Stephen Reid will represent the Liberals. Voters can find polling details on the Elections Manitoba website.
  
  
• Premier Wab Kinew says the province holds a "first-mover advantage" in developing an Arctic trade corridor through the Port of Churchill, Canada’s only Arctic seaport connected by rail. Kinew and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe signed an agreement with Arctic Gateway Group to invest in infrastructure upgrades aimed at extending the shipping season and increasing freight capacity. The Port of Churchill, owned by a partnership of First Nations and Hudson Bay communities, serves as a key route for global trade, linking the Prairies to international markets via the Arctic and Atlantic. This initiative is part of Manitoba's larger plan to create the "One Canada Trade Corridor," which seeks to diversify exports and ease trade tensions with the US. Investments have already enhanced the port’s railway service and mineral storage capacity. Kinew also highlighted Manitoba’s reconciliation experience as an asset in advancing such major infrastructure projects.
  
  
• Premier Wab Kinew, however, declined to join a new interprovincial trade agreement signed by Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, which aims to develop pipelines, rail lines, and trade infrastructure to boost Canadian energy and mineral markets. Kinew emphasized that Manitoba’s participation depends on achieving consensus with Indigenous communities first. The other provinces view the deal as a way to strengthen Canada’s economic resilience and reduce reliance on foreign trade, with plans to build pipelines using Ontario steel and expand rail connections. The agreement also pushes for regulatory reform to streamline federal project reviews and enhance provincial authority. Manitoba’s absence creates a geographic and political gap in the east-west corridor, leaving its future role uncertain.
  
  
• Manitoba Hydro reported a record 2,612 tree-related power outages in 2024, the highest in over 14 years, prompting the utility to increase vegetation management efforts this year. Tree contact with power lines remains a leading cause of outages, as falling branches and overgrown brush can also cause fires and safety hazards. To address this, crews will focus on trimming trees, removing brush with heavy machinery, and applying pesticides, especially in rural areas. Manitoba Hydro plans to share a map showing where work is being done to keep the public informed. Homeowners are also encouraged to maintain vegetation near power lines and can request tree safety assessments through the utility’s website. The utility emphasized the importance of staying clear of work zones and downed power lines, urging people to call 911 if they encounter downed lines. 
  
  
• Cabinet Minister Nahanni Fontaine, who previously criticized a sign language interpreter during an Indigenous womens' graduation event, has apologized and committed to improving accessibility services. She announced $825,000 in grants aimed at reducing barriers for people with disabilities. Fontaine emphasized stronger enforcement of accessibility standards, including potential fines for businesses that fail to comply with requirements like wheelchair ramps. She says that her department will ensure sign language interpreters are present at all public events and plans to hire two dedicated interpreters to support government departments. Fontaine also pledged to undertake "Deaf culture training" to better understand and serve the community. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Interested in what else happened at the Council of the Federation meeting between Canada's Premiers? 

Our friends at Project Confederation wrote about it - if you don't get their emails, you can read it at the link below:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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