Winnipeg at significant disadvantage without a voice at Carney's cabinet table
Opinion
It's an all-too-familiar feeling in Manitoba these days: a sense of being overlooked by Ottawa.
Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his much-anticipated cabinet Tuesday — a leaner, more 'efficient' group, as he put it — meant to project discipline and regional balance.
But if this is what balance looks like, someone forgot to include Manitoba.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, arrives for the cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Tuesday. (Spencer Colby / Canadian Press)
Despite sending six Liberal MPs to the House of Commons — including five from Winnipeg — only one made it into cabinet: Rebecca Chartrand, who won the Churchill-Keewatinook Aski riding in the April 28 federal election.
And while her appointment is a bright spot, the broader picture is a frustrating one for Manitobans.
Chartrand has been named minister of northern and Arctic affairs. She brings valuable experience as an Indigenous advocate and educator and has already shown promise as someone who will champion issues facing northern communities and Indigenous peoples.
Her inclusion in cabinet is well-deserved. It's not her appointment that's the problem — it's that she's the only one from Manitoba.
Winnipeg, home to about two-thirds of the province's population and a hub of political, economic and social activity, has no direct voice at the cabinet table. Not one minister from the city. Not even a token post.
For many, the most glaring omission is Terry Duguid. The longtime MP from Winnipeg South has been a reliable, capable voice for Manitoba in Ottawa. He's been loyal to the Liberal party, stuck through thick and thin, and has played key roles in portfolios ranging from environment to economic development.
Duguid's absence isn't just a political slight — it's a strategic mistake.
Manitoba faces deep, structural challenges. The housing crisis here isn't theoretical — it's in full swing. Our child-care sector is stretched thin. Mental-health and addictions services are chronically underfunded and in need of federal support.
Winnipeg, in particular, is where those challenges are most visible — and where the solutions require serious federal partnership.
And let's not forget the long-standing debates around equalization payments, where Manitoba has unique stakes in the national conversation.
Without a cabinet minister from the city, who's going to push these issues to the forefront? Who's going to advocate around the cabinet table when decisions are being made about infrastructure, funding formulas, transit or national strategies for housing and health care? Chartrand, a rookie politician, can't do it all alone, nor should she be expected to.
Carney's team may argue that representation doesn't have to be strictly geographic — that voices from across Canada will be heard through consultation, not just cabinet titles.
But that's cold comfort for Manitoba, which in recent years has often been under-represented in federal cabinet. In 2021, former prime minister Justin Trudeau unveiled a cabinet that included only one Manitoba representative, former Saint Boniface — Saint Vital MP Dan Vandal.
Historically, Manitoba would almost always have at least one high-profile regional minister (such as former MPs Lloyd Axworthy or Vic Toews) and one other cabinet minister to represent Manitoba's interests. Not this time.
Cabinet appointments are not just symbolic acts. Not much happens in government without the focus and political will of individual cabinet ministers. Political decisions may ultimately be made in the Office of the Prime Minister.
However, unless an issue or a regional priority is championed by a member of cabinet, it has little chance of seeing the light of day.
To be fair, not every capable MP can be in cabinet. It's a political puzzle with limited pieces.
Putting a cabinet together is one of the most challenging tasks for any first minister. They have to consider a multitude of factors, including regional representation, gender, racial and cultural background, competency and even party loyalty. Given those often competing criteria, there will always be some competent and worthy MPs left out of cabinet.
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Still, when a province such as Manitoba sends strong candidates to Ottawa and delivers consistent electoral support, it's reasonable to expect something in return. At least two seats at the table (Manitoba has 14 federal seats) — one from Winnipeg, one from outside the capital city. That's not a big ask, it's just fair representation.
Manitoba's under-representation around the cabinet table not only stings politically, it could have practical consequences. Federal funding, including equalization and health-care transfers, don't just flow automatically.
Advocacy around where and how tax dollars are spent matters. Lobbying matters. Cabinet ministers, including where they're from, matter. And when decisions are being made on where to invest in infrastructure, where to pilot new social programs, or how to distribute federal health dollars, the voices in the room carry weight. History has shown that time and time again.
Manitoba is losing out on that.
tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca
Tom BrodbeckColumnist
Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the Free Press and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the Free Press in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. Read more about Tom.
Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The Free Press's editing team reviews Tom's columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
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I asked them are you going to kill his politics the same way you killed Indira Gandhi's politics? Because they refer to the assassins as their forefathers. They say we are the descendants of the killers of Indira Gandhi, and they are glorifying these acts of violence...'Bezirgan said. Earlier today the Canadian journalist alleged he was assaulted by a group of Khalistani supporters at a rally in Vancouver. Detailing the incident, Bezirgan said, '...One individual came up to me and started asking me questions. He was very close to my face... Then, all of a sudden, I had 2-3 people surrounding me with the same physical closeness, like I had nowhere to go. I was recording secretly from my main camera because I felt that something physical was about to happen. I started recording from my phone as well. As soon as I started recording, they turned their faces away, but this one individual kept walking towards me, and then eventually he grabbed my phone out of my hand for a moment. It stopped my recording, and when I turned back on, the police were engaging with him and telling him to stop his harassing behaviour...I have filed police reports about this specific individual before for his harassment, and him being allowed to walk free is a big disappointment. I think he should be deported back to the UK...I have more footage I'm about to upload on my channel. He continued following me throughout the followed me to the train station, and that's how I departed from the area...' 'It just happened two hours ago and I am still shaking. I was surrounded by multiple Khalistanis who acted like thugs. They surrounded me, threatened me, and got physical with me, and they grabbed my phone out of my hand,' he said. 'This was done by an individual who has been harassing me for a long time online using dehumanising language against me. I have been covering Khalistan protests in Canada, UK, US, New only goal is to do independent journalism and record and report what's going on and because I'm editorially independent, this frustrates some people. They want to influence me, they want to buy me. He is not even a Canadian citizen. He is from the UK. I was just there reporting on the event. Khalistanis gathered to honour their so-called martyrs, including the assassins of Indira Gandhi...' the Canadian journalist said. However, Bezirgan said despite what has happened with him, he is optimistic about the security that will be in place for G7 Summit. 'I feel that Canadian police institutions will take this event very seriously because after all, it's about Canada's reputation,' he said. Bezirgan said that it is not just about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but leaders from all over the world. He added that all police forces are mobilized for the events and trainings are on. 'And we already have the military there at the events. We have military helicopters flying all over the place. It's a major mobilization of police resources. And this is not just about Modi, but we have many world leaders attending this event. So I feel like security will be top notch. Calgary police have been organizing convoy training for their officers throughout the weeks, local police are prepared. Lots of training going on. I feel that they will not let anyone get harmed,' he said. Bezirgan said that he hoped that the government upholds the law. 'Unfortunately, I guess I am too small for Carney government to care. And that's just the way it goes. You know, if I was maybe a mainstream media reporter, then many organizations could rally to my support and politicians may condemn the actions of this individual. But because I am independent, I am not controlled. I have my own editorial independence. Then, you know, they don't want to rally behind someone who also exposes liberal corruption, exposes conservative corruption. It's, I guess I'm too unpredictable. I guess I'm a wild card. But I don't expect any special treatment, I just expect the law to be upheld,' he said. Earlier in the day he had posted on his social media platform X on how he was physically assaulted and threatened by a group of Khalistani supporters at the Vancouver rally. 'I've been surrounded by a group of Khalistanis who grabbed my phone out of my hand and threatened me. Naturally I'm a bit shaken, but not deterred. Footage coming,' he said in a post on X. (ANI)
