Manitoba Provincial Politics

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

MB has lots critical minerals we keep hearing about it, but 50+ steps to get it going, stop the red tape. Plus we have Hydro, electricity is the new GOLD, get it going!

Amen.

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by optimusREIM

This is a given anywhere, the guy I spoke with specifically mentioned that Manitoba is a much more difficult jurisdiction to deal with. I'm just reporting what an industry insider told me.

I'd love to see a comparison between Manitoba mining regulations and whomever the other jurisdictions are. I'm sure they have to be similar in many ways, but as they say, the devil is in the details.

I haven't read the provincial Mines and Minerals Act, so my comments are based on summaries I've looked at.

in general, to open a mine an organization apparently needs to obtain mineral rights, secure environmental approvals, and submit a closure plan.

Prospectors need to have a provincial license, operations have to follow the Workplace Health and Safety Act and operations have to provide financial security for rehabilitation work. Permits have to be received from land owners, whether from private owners or Crown land. Indigenous consultation is required for projects that may impact treaty rights.

I guess any of these could slow the process, but in general I wouldn't want to see any of these eliminated. Licensing prospectors doesn't seem unusual. Needing to follow Workplace Health and Safety rules just makes sense and having a site closure plan seems good insurance against a fly-by-night operator who wants to strip resources and do a runner (think about orphan oil wells in Alberta).

Site closure plans apparently require some financial security for mine rehabilitation work. I can see mining companies being reluctant to offer this, though from the province's perspective avoiding a "mine & dash" situation (again, think orphan wells) seems to make sense.

I can see permits being a bit of an issue, especially in the area of Treaty rights, however, if a producer does their due diligence and consults with Indigenous communities before starting their mine, I would think (or hope) many issues could be mitigated.

Are these rules unreasonable or are we competing against jurisdictions that don't care as much about environmental concerns and just want to "mine, baby, mine"?

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by pspeid

Obby Khan was partially right in his observation that so much of the budget counts on transfer payments, though the PC's have never been known to refuse them when they're in office.

Obby has never even thought about a hand out. Not Obby. Obby would never take a subsidy or an interest free loan from taxpayers. Never.

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Why would a private company to come Manitoba to mine potash for example. When it's much easier in Saskatchewan. There's a reason for that. Not just "muh NDP sucks." Sure there's some of that going on. But they'll take the low hanging fruit. Same with oil. We have a bit and it's being extracted.

The big thing in Manitoba should be mining for minerals. There's a lot here but it's hard to get to. The government needs to make it easier. By doing things like building roads, and dangling carrots (ie: money) to come here.

Dangling carrots for potash or oil, or data centres, isn't going to move the needle in a big way at this point in time.

The "red tape" stuff feels more than fact. It honestly is a talking point to give politicians cover. And it's sad people buy it. MB has bent over for the past 40 years for any private investment.

We have some oil, we have some potash but not in quantity to make us a have province sustainably.

Minerals could be it....but there's so much infrastructure needed to make that viable. That's where the investment needs to go. But we're talking tens and tens of billions to really activate the North. The private sector isn't going to do it. If the Feds are serious along with the province it will happen eventually. But it won't be sexy until there's some real economic shocks unfortunately. "Churchill" is starting to be an idea but there's so many steps to get there in terms of having any basic access through infrastructure in a region that is devastatingly brutal terrain to build and maintain in.

The "red tape" stuff is a red herring IMO.

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by pspeid

I'd love to see a comparison between Manitoba mining regulations and whomever the other jurisdictions are. I'm sure they have to be similar in many ways, but as they say, the devil is in the details.

I haven't read the provincial Mines and Minerals Act, so my comments are based on summaries I've looked at.

in general, to open a mine an organization apparently needs to obtain mineral rights, secure environmental approvals, and submit a closure plan.

Prospectors need to have a provincial license, operations have to follow the Workplace Health and Safety Act and operations have to provide financial security for rehabilitation work. Permits have to be received from land owners, whether from private owners or Crown land. Indigenous consultation is required for projects that may impact treaty rights.

I guess any of these could slow the process, but in general I wouldn't want to see any of these eliminated. Licensing prospectors doesn't seem unusual. Needing to follow Workplace Health and Safety rules just makes sense and having a site closure plan seems good insurance against a fly-by-night operator who wants to strip resources and do a runner (think about orphan oil wells in Alberta).

Site closure plans apparently require some financial security for mine rehabilitation work. I can see mining companies being reluctant to offer this, though from the province's perspective avoiding a "mine & dash" situation (again, think orphan wells) seems to make sense.

I can see permits being a bit of an issue, especially in the area of Treaty rights, however, if a producer does their due diligence and consults with Indigenous communities before starting their mine, I would think (or hope) many issues could be mitigated.

Are these rules unreasonable or are we competing against jurisdictions that don't care as much about environmental concerns and just want to "mine, baby, mine"?

It's also a matter of juice vs squeeze. We don't necessarily have huge reserves of anything that's going to easily turn into positive cash flow for a private business quickly. There's also a lot of exploration that needs to be done to determine what there is. Again this follows those cash flows. So desperation becomes our friend as shortages and worry hits.

Better trade deals with countries that actually manufacture and are willing to invest in mining raw materials will help.

[BorealLynx]

Originally Posted by EdwardTH

Subsidizing resource extraction as a means to develop the economy is just plain dumb. Maybe our perceptions are affected by the success of the SK & AB resource sectors but they are the exception and not the rule. Value-added industry is a million times more important than raw resource extraction.

SK has 100x the potash deposits we do. We will never be like them. And no country on earth is wealthy from mining nickel and copper lol.

Every dollar that we could put into incentivizing mining is a dollar that would be better spent developing tech, manufacturing, creative and other high-skill high value-added industries. And if you want to attract and retain the high-skill workforce you need a desirable urban lifestyle that we don't offer here, so our graduates leave. Funding proper transit in Winnipeg would be way better for our economy, dollar-for-dollar, than building mining infrastructure up north. And a side benefit is we don't need to destroy pristine boreal forest.

Well said. #1, you can't tease businesses to harvest your minerals and other natural resources. They either want them or they don't. If you have to grease the wheels, it's because they don't value them enough. If they really want your resources and think that there is a business case for them, they will be the ones knocking on your door.

#2, "build it and they will come" is a risky strategy. I'd rather do it the other way around - let them come to us with an interest, and then negotiate what the public can offer to facilitate it - roads, services, power, etc. But building a road to a potential mineral deposit in order to lure mining companies is putting the cart before the horse.

And #3, I have to agree that the future is in value-added and technology, not natural resources. Alberta and SK are exceptions, and their bubbles will eventually burst. If they invest those revenues wisely then it can be argued that it's a good decision, but that rarely happens. To put it bluntly, if Alberta ran out of oil today, they would very quickly become a have-not province with a phenomenal unemployment rate.

I would rather bet on innovation, technology, sciences and bioengineering. We are much better than just dwarves with pickaxes. But NOT crypto, and NOT AI data centers. Those are fads and hype (for the most part) - they don't generate jobs, and they don't stimulate any kind of innovation or create intellectual capital. Some good will come of the AI bubble, but that good won't be found in data centers, it will be found in specific applications of AI, and that can happen anywhere; it doesn't have to be next door to a data center.

Manitoba must create an environment that stimulates and encourages entrepreneurship and bold innovation. Our people should be our best natural resource, but we have to educate them, train them, keep them healthy, keep them safe, take care of those who can't take care of themselves, and reward them for inventing things, trying things, and using their creativity to bring new ideas to life.

My two cents worth, as a former Manitoban now living in Far-Eastern Manitoba.

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by BorealLynx

Well said. #1, you can't tease businesses to harvest your minerals and other natural resources. They either want them or they don't. If you have to grease the wheels, it's because they don't value them enough. If they really want your resources and think that there is a business case for them, they will be the ones knocking on your door.

#2, "build it and they will come" is a risky strategy. I'd rather do it the other way around - let them come to us with an interest, and then negotiate what the public can offer to facilitate it - roads, services, power, etc. But building a road to a potential mineral deposit in order to lure mining companies is putting the cart before the horse.

And #3, I have to agree that the future is in value-added and technology, not natural resources. Alberta and SK are exceptions, and their bubbles will eventually burst. If they invest those revenues wisely then it can be argued that it's a good decision, but that rarely happens. To put it bluntly, if Alberta ran out of oil today, they would very quickly become a have-not province with a phenomenal unemployment rate.

I would rather bet on innovation, technology, sciences and bioengineering. We are much better than just dwarves with pickaxes. But NOT crypto, and NOT AI data centers. Those are fads and hype (for the most part) - they don't generate jobs, and they don't stimulate any kind of innovation or create intellectual capital. Some good will come of the AI bubble, but that good won't be found in data centers, it will be found in specific applications of AI, and that can happen anywhere; it doesn't have to be next door to a data center.

Manitoba must create an environment that stimulates and encourages entrepreneurship and bold innovation. Our people should be our best natural resource, but we have to educate them, train them, keep them healthy, keep them safe, take care of those who can't take care of themselves, and reward them for inventing things, trying things, and using their creativity to bring new ideas to life.

My two cents worth, as a former Manitoban now living in Far-Eastern Manitoba.

IMO these are some very insightful comments. I think if we promote innovation in the areas we already have a stake in, we'll put ourselves in a good position for the future. Agriculture comes to mind first, and I think the Cereals Canada GATE facility would be an example of this. I would include targeted medical research and aerospace as well.

I think our greatest difficulty is in being a smaller province with few seats in the House of Commons. This usually makes us a low priority for federal government funding of any kind, especially if the sectors we want to invest in compete with seat-rich jurisdictions in other parts of the country. We'll have to be resigned to the fact that we'll have to be extra aggressive in attracting investment; very much a "gloves off/punch above our weight" situation. I think we've done in to grow the local film industry, we can do it in other sectors as well.

[Wpg_Guy]

Kinew slams Trump, war with Iran at federal NDP convention
Premier tells delegates NDP can be conscience of Parliament and have successful leader
By: Tyler Searle
Friday, Mar. 27, 2026



Premier Wab Kinew fired more shots at the U.S. administration on Friday by criticizing its “foolish Iranian war” and urging the federal government to condemn further military action.

“We have to stop the war in Iran. It is causing a lot of suffering overseas, it is causing a lot of economic pain to working people here in Canada,” Kinew told party faithful on the opening day of the federal NDP’s leadership convention in Winnipeg.

“Not a single Canadian should ever be put in harm’s way to try and defend (President) Donald Trump’s foolish Iranian war… No American child from the blue collar or the middle class should have to die in Iran. Let the Epstein class fight the Epstein war.”

That final line — a reference to disgraced financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — drew raucous applause from the crowd, who rose to their feet and cheered in support.

The premier has publicly speculated Trump launched missiles at Iran to distract from demands for the U.S. administration to fully release millions of documents related to Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking.



Former associates of Epstein, including Trump, have endured prolonged and intense scrutiny from the American public as a result of the so-called Epstein files scandal. The U.S. president has denied any wrongdoing and said the pair cut ties years before Epstein was first convicted of sex crimes involving a minor in 2008.

Kinew wrote a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday, describing the war as “dumb” and urging him to tell the American government to bring it to an end.

“For nearly a month, the war in Iran has caused immense hardship, death and destruction for millions. Here in Manitoba, it has led to one of the largest increases in gas and energy prices in our history,” he wrote.

“Canada has always prided itself on pursuing a foreign policy that promotes prosperity at home and human rights around the world. Today this means taking action to end the war in Iran.”

After commenting on the war, Kinew turned his focus to the delegates, calling them to focus on issues such as affordability and health care as they work to restore their standing in the House of Commons.

The federal party’s seat count after the last election a year ago wasn’t high enough to retain official party status.

His speech opened the three-day convention in downtown Winnipeg, where about 2,000 delegates from across the country have assembled. When the event ends Sunday, the New Democrats will have elected a new leader.

Kinew said the person entrusted to rebuild the party should focus on winning elections first, before tackling bigger policy ideas.

“It’s important to be the conscience of Parliament. I don’t want to diminish that. That is very, very important,” he told the crowd.

“But here in Manitoba, we are showing you why winning matters. You can have a progressive economy. You can have better health care. You can stand up beyond the borders of a province of 1.5 million people and say, ‘This is who we are as Canadians.’”

Kinew is one of only two NDP premiers in Canada, and polls suggest his popularity is among the highest of the provincial leaders.

The candidates for federal NDP leadership include union leader Rob Ashton, filmmaker and activist Avi Lewis, social worker Tanille Johnston, Alberta MP Heather McPherson and farmer Tony McQuail.

Rebuilding a federal party that was reduced to just seven seats has been the focus of the leadership race.

The next leader faces an even tougher task after Nunavut MP Lori Idlout crossed the floor to join the Liberals two weeks ago, leaving the NDP with just six seats.

They also face financial hurdles. Lucy Watson, the NDP president, told the convention Friday the party has about $13 million in debt.

This, however, is down from $26 million in debt that the party had after the 2025 election.

Delegates will debate adopting a permanent political organizing model aimed at expanding the NDP’s presence in communities outside election cycles, and getting more resources to riding associations.

Matthew Green, a former Ontario NDP MP who lost his seat in 2025, said the party was the victim of bad timing in the last election, caught in the debate over which leader would be the best choice to deal with Trump.

Green said the NDP’s message will resonate more in the next election campaign because working people are still being left behind.

“We have to be able to have a process in which working-class voices are actually represented at decision-making tables. That’s not the case right now,” Green told The Canadian Press at the convention.

“We have a Wall Street banker running our country as a CEO. And despite all of the rhetoric … wages are still stagnant, prices are still sky-high, and Canadians are still struggling to get by day to day. I think they’re waking up to that.”

Green did not endorse any of the candidates. He said building strong community connections and enhancing the volunteer base are part of a winning strategy.

“When there’s an over-focus on the leader and this kind of cult of personality built around one person, I think it becomes very difficult for New Democrats to punch through,” Green said.

“But when people feel connected to the party where they live and when they’re building and developing leadership in their own communities, I think that’s where our processes of democracy are best.”

Many in the party have said they need to reconnect with their grassroots support to get back to recognized party status in the House of Commons.

Winnipeg Free Press

[pspeid]

I don't doubt a lot of the constituents were wishing Wab was one of their party leadership candidates. The crop they have to choose from are uninspiring at best; certainly none that could broaden the NDP appeal like Jack Layton did, or that Wab has the potential to do.

I think any legitimate move to the national NDP leadership would require the demonstration of more fiscal stability in Manitoba, which Wab hasn't managed to do yet. I think if he can get even close to balancing the Manitoba budget he'll be on track for national leadership, but that's going to be a difficult challenge.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

I think his politics are more centrist than left. I bet if he ever were to run federally it would be for the Liberals and not the NDP.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by Mr Tall Forehead

I think his politics are more centrist than left. I bet if he ever were to run federally it would be for the Liberals and not the NDP.

hard to say.

what a mess he inherited

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

Kinew slams Trump, war with Iran at federal NDP convention
Premier tells delegates NDP can be conscience of Parliament and have successful leader
By: Tyler Searle
Friday, Mar. 27, 2026



Premier Wab Kinew fired more shots at the U.S. administration on Friday by criticizing its “foolish Iranian war” and urging the federal government to condemn further military action.

“We have to stop the war in Iran. It is causing a lot of suffering overseas, it is causing a lot of economic pain to working people here in Canada,” Kinew told party faithful on the opening day of the federal NDP’s leadership convention in Winnipeg.

“Not a single Canadian should ever be put in harm’s way to try and defend (President) Donald Trump’s foolish Iranian war… No American child from the blue collar or the middle class should have to die in Iran. Let the Epstein class fight the Epstein war.”

That final line — a reference to disgraced financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — drew raucous applause from the crowd, who rose to their feet and cheered in support.

The premier has publicly speculated Trump launched missiles at Iran to distract from demands for the U.S. administration to fully release millions of documents related to Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking.



Former associates of Epstein, including Trump, have endured prolonged and intense scrutiny from the American public as a result of the so-called Epstein files scandal. The U.S. president has denied any wrongdoing and said the pair cut ties years before Epstein was first convicted of sex crimes involving a minor in 2008.

Kinew wrote a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday, describing the war as “dumb” and urging him to tell the American government to bring it to an end.

“For nearly a month, the war in Iran has caused immense hardship, death and destruction for millions. Here in Manitoba, it has led to one of the largest increases in gas and energy prices in our history,” he wrote.

“Canada has always prided itself on pursuing a foreign policy that promotes prosperity at home and human rights around the world. Today this means taking action to end the war in Iran.”

After commenting on the war, Kinew turned his focus to the delegates, calling them to focus on issues such as affordability and health care as they work to restore their standing in the House of Commons.

The federal party’s seat count after the last election a year ago wasn’t high enough to retain official party status.

His speech opened the three-day convention in downtown Winnipeg, where about 2,000 delegates from across the country have assembled. When the event ends Sunday, the New Democrats will have elected a new leader.

Kinew said the person entrusted to rebuild the party should focus on winning elections first, before tackling bigger policy ideas.

“It’s important to be the conscience of Parliament. I don’t want to diminish that. That is very, very important,” he told the crowd.

“But here in Manitoba, we are showing you why winning matters. You can have a progressive economy. You can have better health care. You can stand up beyond the borders of a province of 1.5 million people and say, ‘This is who we are as Canadians.’”

Kinew is one of only two NDP premiers in Canada, and polls suggest his popularity is among the highest of the provincial leaders.

The candidates for federal NDP leadership include union leader Rob Ashton, filmmaker and activist Avi Lewis, social worker Tanille Johnston, Alberta MP Heather McPherson and farmer Tony McQuail.

Rebuilding a federal party that was reduced to just seven seats has been the focus of the leadership race.

The next leader faces an even tougher task after Nunavut MP Lori Idlout crossed the floor to join the Liberals two weeks ago, leaving the NDP with just six seats.

They also face financial hurdles. Lucy Watson, the NDP president, told the convention Friday the party has about $13 million in debt.

This, however, is down from $26 million in debt that the party had after the 2025 election.

Delegates will debate adopting a permanent political organizing model aimed at expanding the NDP’s presence in communities outside election cycles, and getting more resources to riding associations.

Matthew Green, a former Ontario NDP MP who lost his seat in 2025, said the party was the victim of bad timing in the last election, caught in the debate over which leader would be the best choice to deal with Trump.

Green said the NDP’s message will resonate more in the next election campaign because working people are still being left behind.

“We have to be able to have a process in which working-class voices are actually represented at decision-making tables. That’s not the case right now,” Green told The Canadian Press at the convention.

“We have a Wall Street banker running our country as a CEO. And despite all of the rhetoric … wages are still stagnant, prices are still sky-high, and Canadians are still struggling to get by day to day. I think they’re waking up to that.”

Green did not endorse any of the candidates. He said building strong community connections and enhancing the volunteer base are part of a winning strategy.

“When there’s an over-focus on the leader and this kind of cult of personality built around one person, I think it becomes very difficult for New Democrats to punch through,” Green said.

“But when people feel connected to the party where they live and when they’re building and developing leadership in their own communities, I think that’s where our processes of democracy are best.”

Many in the party have said they need to reconnect with their grassroots support to get back to recognized party status in the House of Commons.

Winnipeg Free Press

Says the guy who was convicted for assaulting a taxi driver (along with racial epitaphs thrown at the cab driver), impaired driving, breach of court orders; plus was charged with theft and domestic assault. Certainly don't need to take any morality lesson from this thug.

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Says the guy who was convicted for assaulting a taxi driver (along with racial epitaphs thrown at the cab driver), impaired driving, breach of court orders; plus was charged with theft and domestic assault. Certainly don't need to take any morality lesson from this thug.

Morality lessons can come from many sources, some of them from people who have committed terrible acts in their past. Among them Frank Abagnale (the former con artist portrayed in the move Catch me if You Can), Andre Norman and actor Danny Trejo. Martin Luther King had extramarital affairs. Mahatma Ghandi expressed racist views towards black africans in some of his early writings.

The common factor is that all of these people reformed their ways. All indications are that Wab Kinew has also reformed his ways, though of course I don't know the man personally. If you have information about recent offences Kinew has committed I'd go to the police with them.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Says the guy who was convicted for assaulting a taxi driver (along with racial epitaphs thrown at the cab driver), impaired driving, breach of court orders; plus was charged with theft and domestic assault. Certainly don't need to take any morality lesson from this thug.

but he did change his life and his experiance guides him he took responsability over time and he knows the issue from within his own lifes experiance.


if u want a POS look into the shit sir john A macdonald did

[Authentic_City]

Right, and in 1997 Sask Premier Scott Moe killed a woman and fled the scene of an accident, and he was previously charged with impaired driving (1992, and again in 1994) and leaving the scene of an accident (1994). Should we bring this up too every time Moe says something?

Rehashing the old “Wab is a thug” trope is a poor substitute for a reasoned argument. Just trolling, I guesss?

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Right, and in 1997 Sask Premier Scott Moe killed a woman and fled the scene of an accident, and he was previously charged with impaired driving (1992, and again in 1994) and leaving the scene of an accident (1994). Should we bring this up too every time Moe says something?

Rehashing the old “Wab is a thug” trope is a poor substitute for a reasoned argument. Just trolling, I guesss?

Yup.

I was once critical of Wab's past. However, he has done a good job, and made a believer out of me.

[Wpg_Guy]

The federal NDP has been reduced to a whole lot of clowns, i hope they never regain official party status again.

[Wpgstvsouth94]

Those videos on X were very hard to watch. Other countries are laughing at us right now. We are literally the laughing stock.

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by Wpgstvsouth94

Those videos on X were very hard to watch. Other countries are laughing at us right now. We are literally the laughing stock.

I think I'd be worried if there was anything on Elon Musk's video platform that praised Canada. IMO being attacked by douche-bag trolls is a good sign that we're on the right track.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Right, and in 1997 Sask Premier Scott Moe killed a woman and fled the scene of an accident, and he was previously charged with impaired driving (1992, and again in 1994) and leaving the scene of an accident (1994). Should we bring this up too every time Moe says something?

Rehashing the old “Wab is a thug” trope is a poor substitute for a reasoned argument. Just trolling, I guesss?

Kinew is not the person to be lecturing others on one's morality. And the same too for Moe; who stays away from point fingers at others.