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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - JULY 2013
the east and the west of us in addition
to the States.
What are some of the major steps
the province has made to encourage
success in First Nations communities?
We’ve made major investments in
the north for example the University
College of the North which has several
campuses in First Nations communi-
ties. We want First Nations people to
get the skills they need so they can
participate in the economy.
Our relationship with our First
Nations is a relationship built on re-
spect and reconciliation. In Manitoba,
we have respect for the treaties and
reconciliation for the past grievances.
There are still lots of work to do to
understand the challenges of First Na-
tions people as a result of having a
generations put in residential schools,
and the result of children being taken
away from their families. But we know
one of the best ways forward is to cre-
ate economic opportunities. So, we’re
building roads, air strips, and infra-
structure into those communities. You
can never be complacent about it: one
of the most important things in Can-
ada is to make sure that First Nations
and Metis people have a chance to take
part in the economy. We are always
working towards that, but we need to
do that in partnership with communi-
ties.
Where do you envision there will be
a lot of success in terms of new indus-
try development in Manitoba?
We created a specially targeted
credit for the new media sector, which
was introduced in this recent budget.
A lot of young people in Manitoba that
are very skilled in developing new
media applications for the internet, as
well as film technology. We want to
make sure they have access to training
and workspaces.
Going back to immigration—what
more can the province do?
We think the federal government
has to review the amount of people we
are allowing into the country. On the
smaller scale, we have to make sure
the line ups for Visas aren’t super long,
and we need to have good temporary
foreign workers regulations, especially
to make it easier for students who
come here to be a landed immigrant.
It’s all about growing our population.
Our First Nations brothers and sisters
were here first but we’ve always been
a province of newcomers as well—we
want that diversity.
What about the U.S., how have
you been increasing trade?
We are seeing some trade barriers
with some Country of Origin labelling
in the United States and this is affect-
ing agriculture, which is a very serious
concern. But there is an opportunity
to forge relationships at the governors
and premiers’ level, and we do work
with at that level. We need to address
we share energy with each other (40
per cent of our electricity is exportable)
and understand how important these
relationships are.
Why should people choose Manitoba
to live and work?
We have affordable housing, good
work opportunities, and great ameni-
ties. We offer a good quality of life,
and a lifetime of employment. We also
have good cultural institutions and a
thriving pro sports scene with the re-
cent return of the Winnipeg Jets and
the recently-opened new home for the
Blue Bombers.
On that note: are the Jets or the
Blue Bombers going to make the
playoffs in the upcoming seasons?
When it comes to sports teams,
we are doing well. Of course we’d like
to see them in the playoffs! The Jets
just missed the playoffs this year, and
with the Blue Bombers, everything
comes down to keeping the quar-
terback healthy. They are both great
teams that enjoy the support of the
best fans in the country.
The Jets just
missed the play-
offs this year,
and with the
Bombers, every-
thing comes
down to keep-
ing the quar-
terback healthy.
