Manitoba Minute: Issue 83

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

📅 This Week In Manitoba: 📅

• Premier Wab Kinew is urging Ontario Premier Doug Ford to keep running his province’s anti-tariff ad campaign, despite US President Donald Trump’s angry response. The campaign, which features footage of former President Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs, prompted Trump to falsely claim Reagan had supported protectionism and to suspend trade talks with Canada. Ford announced he would pause the ads to help restart negotiations, but Kinew said the message was “accurate and powerful,” arguing the campaign is having an impact. He said Reagan’s true legacy was one of free trade and open markets, not economic nationalism. Kinew said Trump’s tariffs hurt both economies and that Ford should “keep the ads on TV,” adding that most Canadians support standing up to US protectionist measures.
  
  
• Research Manitoba has unveiled a new funding initiative to support community-driven research that tackles real-world problems, starting with projects focused on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The Manitoba Solutions Grant will provide up to $100,000 annually for two years to teams linking researchers with community or industry partners. CEO Jennifer Cleary said the goal is to ensure research delivers tangible results for Manitobans in areas like healthcare, energy and agriculture. Each project must include at least one “knowledge user,” such as a healthcare provider or non-profit, to help apply findings directly in practice. Program officer Ashley King said the first intake will explore practical uses of AI, from improving mental health supports to advancing wastewater treatment. The new program follows a $5-million increase in Research Manitoba’s operating budget and aims to strengthen innovation and collaboration across the province.
  
  
• A new report shows the Manitoba government is taking longer and charging more to process Freedom of Information requests. In the last fiscal year, only 55% of requests were completed within the 45-day legal timeframe, down from 69% the year before. Fees collected rose to over $13,000, more than triple the previous year and 10 times higher than two years earlier. Finance Minister Adrien Sala attributed the delays and higher fees to the recent centralization of the request system under the Finance Department, which has led to more consistent fee assessments. The Province is investing in training and staffing to address backlogs. Rising costs could deter citizens, journalists, and community groups from seeking public information, limiting government transparency. The report also noted a long-term decline in total requests, with most now coming from individuals, media organizations, and political parties.
  
  
• Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries reported nearly $30,000 in losses after disposing of American-made liquor that was pulled from store shelves in response to US tariffs on Canadian goods. The figure includes about $2,400 in disposal service costs, with the remainder reflecting the value of expired products that could not be resold. The removal, enacted in March, was part of Manitoba’s participation in a national response to US trade levies imposed under President Donald Trump, affecting roughly 6% of Liquor Mart inventory. Glen Simard, the minister responsible for Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, defended the policy, saying the province is "standing up" and taking $80 million out of the American economy while encouraging consumers to support local breweries and distilleries. He described the $29,000 loss as “the cost of doing business in the Trump era.” The ban has been dismissed by critics as largely symbolic, who’ve argued that its impact on US trade is negligible.
  
  
• The Manitoba government has announced $4.5 million in funding to support Indigenous language revitalization through two new university programs. The University of Winnipeg will receive $2.3 million to launch a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous language immersion focused on Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), aimed at training fluent speakers and future teachers. University College of the North will receive nearly $2.25 million to create a bachelor’s program in Ininimowin (Cree) and establish a Centre for Aboriginal Languages and Culture. Premier Wab Kinew and Minister Renée Cable said the investment is intended to preserve Indigenous languages and strengthen cultural identity across the province. The programs are expected to expand opportunities for Indigenous language education from kindergarten through post-secondary levels and support local capacity for instruction in both northern and urban areas. Both degrees are scheduled to begin in January 2026 as part of Manitoba’s larger reconciliation and education initiatives.

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