Spirit of Winnipeg award winners announced
Mode40, which focuses on digital transformation within companies, was recognized in the 'technology and innovation' category. FortWhyte Alive won for its environmental and energy impact.
Film Training Manitoba claimed top spot for its workplace culture and commitment to opportunity, diversity and equity.
The Dream Factory got an accolade in the non-profit and social enterprise category.
Qualico, a large Western Canada real estate company, was named Spirit of Winnipeg winner. The award is given to organizations making Winnipeg 'a better, more prosperous community,' a chamber webpage reads.
— Free Press staff
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CBC
6 days ago
- CBC
In Winnipeg, U.S. ambassador to Canada issues warning not to overlook cross-border ties
The U.S. ambassador to Canada warned businesspeople and political leaders inside a Winnipeg auditorium Tuesday not to "bet against America" as group of demonstrators outside the venue protested his presence in the Manitoba capital. Days before a deadline to assemble a cross-border trade deal, U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra suggested Canada does not want to run the risk of missing out on economic opportunities provided by its neighbour to the south as it seeks to diversify its export markets. "Right now, I wouldn't bet against America. I wouldn't bet against Canada, either," Hoekstra said during an address to approximately 200 people at a Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce gathering at the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq's soft-seat theatre. The ambassador then issued a subtle warning in the form of a dry joke. "I know that the EU and Japan just really want to buy the cars that you make in Ontario," Hoekstra said. "I think there are certain things that absolutely Canada is positioned to open up global markets and you should take advantage of those, absolutely," he continued. "There are other markets where you're tied so closely to the U.S. that that may be a confining factor for you." Hoekstra, who was appointed an ambassador to Canada four months ago by U.S. President Donald Trump, made his comments while senior Canadian and U.S. trade officials are attempting to complete a trade deal in advance of an Aug. 1 deadline. Trump has suggested Canada could end up with tariffs instead of a trade deal. Earlier this month, he told Prime Minister Mark Carney the U.S. may apply a 35 per cent tariff on Canadian goods that don't comply with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, or CUSMA, up from 25 per cent right now. Separately, Canadian steel and aluminum face a 50 per cent tariff that the U.S. has imposed on all countries, while the U.S. tariff on Canadian energy and potash is set at 10 per cent. Trump has also slapped a 25 per cent tariff on non-U.S. content of automobile imports and threatened to impose levies on pharmaceuticals, lumber and copper. Despite these existing and potential tariffs, Hoekstra told his Winnipeg audience that the fabric trying the Canada and U.S. together remains strong, even as it has changed. "Let that fabric stretch, let it take a slightly different shape, but don't do anything to break it," he implored, referring to the cross-border relationship. "There's no reason why it can't continue to be the envy of the world." During a question-and-answer session with Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president Loren Remillard, Hoekstra declined to reveal the status of existing trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. "I'm not sitting in the room and if I were, I probably wouldn't be answering that question," he said. The ambassador also deflected a question about the pending CUSMA renegotiations. Winnipeg South Liberal MP Ben Carr, who chairs the House of Commons industry committee, said he was not surprised by the absence of candour from the U.S. ambassador about trade negotiations. "These things have to take place, as they should, between our senior officials who have a deep understanding about what's going on," Carr said following the speech. A senior executive with a major Winnipeg manufacturer said the ambassador was more candid during a meeting with about 20 business leaders and politicians prior to the speech. Winpak vice-president Randy Zasitko, whose packaging company exports about 80 per cent of its products to the United States, said Canada may end up with a trade deal similar one signed recently with European Union — and one the U.S. contends it has reached with Japan. "From his perspective, he says there is no reason why when you look at the agreements that have been achieved at the 10 and 15 per cent [tariff rate], there's no reason Canada can't be even lower than that," Zasitko said. "Now, he didn't promise that by any means." Despite the U.S. tariffs and the renegotiations of North American trade agreements, Hoekstra said a continent-wide free trade zone remains a possibility. He said the Trump administration sees no connection between the application of tariffs and rising U.S. inflation. He also praised administration policies such as increased border enforcement and insisted the president means what he says. "If you want to know where Donald Trump is going, listen to him," Hoekstra said. Outside the art gallery, several dozen protesters held up signs decrying U.S. support for the Israeli war on Gaza, U.S. efforts to isolate Cuba, U.S. policies limiting transgender rights and the U.S. insistence on increased military spending by NATO members, among other issues. "We just want to let him know that he's not welcome here," said Sarah Borbridge, a member of Peace Alliance Winnipeg, referring to the U.S. ambassador. "We don't want representatives of U.S imperialism and we also see the U.S. as descending into fascism." U.S. trade policy was also a focus for the demonstration. One sign read "tariff this, sphincter face." With protesters gathered outside, U.S. ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra spoke to an audience at Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq on Tuesday. Despite ongoing trade tensions, the ambassador advised Canada not to turn its back on its neighbour to the south.
Winnipeg Free Press
19-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Secure ties now or risk being left behind
Premier Wab Kinew is expected to announce the appointment of a provincial trade representative based out of Washington, D.C., next week, to fulfil a promise he made early this year. Experts say the trade rep shouldn't be a politician or a diplomat, but someone who knows Manitoba industry and trade and can build long-term relationships while finding ways to navigate the rocky shoals of U.S. protectionism and President Donald Trump's tariffs. Since December, Kinew has said Manitoba must have its own full-time trade officer working in the heart of the U.S. capital — preferably at the Canadian Embassy — where a few other provinces have someone working on their behalf to strengthen trade ties. BORIS MINKEVICH / free press files Former Manitoba premier Gary Doer, Canada's ambassador to the U.S. from 2009 to 2016, said provincial trade representatives during his time in Washington did 'excellent work' and were based out of the embassy on Pennsylvania Avenue, not far from the White House. After Trump was sworn in for his second term as U.S. president in January, he launched a trade war against Canada and other trading partners, imposed punishing tariffs, and threatened to annex Canada. In March, Manitoba pulled U.S. booze from Liquor Mart shelves in retaliation. On April 28, the Liberals were elected and Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada's 'old relationship' based on integration with the U.S. 'is over.' It's more important than ever for Manitoba to have a voice in Washington and the ear of Canada's ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, say Winnipeg business and trade experts and a former top politician and diplomat. 'This is a necessary step,' said Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president Loren Remillard. Manitoba must start building relationships in Washington now or get left behind, he said. 'It's a strategic step, and it goes beyond just the current relationship with the Trump administration, it extends to future administrations,' said Remillard, who will host U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra at a chamber event in Winnipeg on July 29. 'Relate first, negotiate second,' said Gary Doer, who was Manitoba's premier from 1999 to 2009, and Canada's ambassador to the U.S. from 2009 to 2016. Doer said provincial trade representatives conducted 'excellent work' out of the Canadian Embassy at that time, fostering trade and cross-border relationships. They benefited from having their office in the embassy on Pennsylvania Avenue — which gave them access to the Canadian government and put them in proximity to U.S. power, he said. 'You're working with federal bureaucracy, but not being completely dependent upon it, by having your own set of people with skills and connections when you're dealing with Washington,' Doer said. Some question the value of Manitoba setting up shop in the U.S. capital, where there are so many competing interests and while the president has ditched trade deals and rules. 'What are we going to get out of that?' asked Prof. Barry Prentice at the University of Manitoba's Asper School of Business. Trade deals, such as the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement signed by Trump in 2018 during his first term, have since been undone by Trump, whose tariffs in 2025 are being challenged for violating the North American free trade pact. 'How many lobbyists are there in Washington, D.C. and how loud would our voice be to try and get anything done?' Prentice asked. Manitoba's time and money may be better spent focusing on states with which it does the most trade, in the U.S. Midwest and those to the south along the mid-continental corridor, he said. 'If I were going to invest money to expand trade, I might be more interested in Mexico than trying to talk to Washington,' Prentice said. Meantime, Canada is paying the price for taking U.S. trade for granted, said supply chain management expert Robert Parsons. 'We were so lulled into being dependent upon the Americans, we have not done enough to address how we as a country can remain independent with different trading partners,' he said. 'We have been putting it off and kicking it down the road for such a long time,' said Parsons, who has a doctorate in engineering and teaches at the Asper School of Business. Manitoba needs a U.S. trade rep to be strategic and in place for the long haul to know 'the devil of the details of everything going on, so that we know how to appropriately react.' It shouldn't be a political patronage appointment, Parsons said. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. The trade rep should be someone with business experience, 'who understands trade and the implications of that trade to companies in our province — a senior person who's had broad-based involvement with industries across and within Manitoba,' he said. Remillard, who was part of a provincial trade delegation to the U.S. capital last year, said Manitoba needs to be there so it's not left behind as other provinces forge connections on Capitol Hill, and 'connect with and help shape the Canadian voice that our ambassador and her team are bringing to their meetings in Washington.' Other provinces with a presence in D.C. 'have the ear' of Canada's ambassador on a regular basis, he said. '(She) is very aware of what's going on in Quebec, Ontario, B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, because those provinces make it a point of keeping the ambassador apprised of very specific issues and opportunities in their jurisdictions,' Remillard said. 'That's the opportunity we're losing without a representative in Washington and one that we're correcting by having this person.' Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is 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. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
05-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Freeing up trade and keeping workers safe
Opinion Over the last few months, we have heard a lot about the need to remove so-called interprovincial trade barriers, driven by political responses to the impacts of Donald Trump's trade threats and tariffs on the Canadian economy. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he wants interprovincial trade barriers taken down by Canada Day. Here in Manitoba, the NDP government recently passed Bill 47, legislation that the government claims will free up interprovincial trade. While interprovincial trade barriers are clearly something that politicians of all political stripes are currently focused on, the actual evidence of barriers that exist is a bit murkier. When I talk with my business counterparts, I find they are often hard pressed to name many examples of specific interprovincial trade barriers that are interfering with trade between provinces. About a month ago, I had the opportunity to discuss the topic of interprovincial trade barriers with Loren Remillard, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, on a local radio station. The only example of an interprovincial trade barrier that he offered was that each province has individual rules for fall protection. We have all heard the lofty claims that removing interprovincial trade barriers will unleash billions in economic activity. But I fail to see how taking away a province's ability to set strong protections to keep workers from falling from roofs will unleash billions of dollars in economic activity. Removing interprovincial trade barriers should not be used as code for things that are not barriers at all, but important protections that keep workers safe — like setting high workplace health and safety standards. A healthy workforce is a more productive workforce, and governments should be doing all they can to keep workers safe and healthy on the job. Here in Manitoba, workers continue to suffer over 25,000 workplace-related injuries a year, demonstrating that there is a lot more work to do on workplace health and safety. When it comes to having common standards across the country, we should be striving to have the best standards, not the lowest. For example, look at Red Seal certification, something that unions have been major supporters of through training and apprenticeship programs. When someone is Red Seal certified, you know they are well trained, and you can trust the work they do. For trades workers, that Red Seal is a ticket to a good paying, family-supporting job, and it is recognized throughout our country, meaning you can work anywhere in Canada. Having Red Seal certification demonstrates that a worker has completed the highest standards of training. And the highest standards are something that we should all aspire to when it comes to our economy and our workforce. Our province's interprovincial trade legislation will enable Manitoba to identify jurisdictions in Canada as reciprocating jurisdictions, in effect treating that jurisdiction's standards as equal to Manitoba's when it comes to the sale of goods and services. It closely copies legislation that Ontario and Nova Scotia have introduced on the subject, and Premier Wab Kinew also signed an interprovincial trade MOU with Ontario a few weeks ago. But other recent action by Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government should give us pause on going full steam ahead with treating it as a reciprocating jurisdiction, no questions asked. Premier Ford is currently fast-tracking a controversial law to allow cabinet to identify 'special economic zones,' which could exempt any company or project in the zone from having to comply with whichever provincial laws, provincial regulations or municipal bylaws the government chooses. This would open the door for the Ontario government to declare that such things as Ontario's minimum wage rules or its environmental protections no longer apply within the designated zone, an extreme measure that exists nowhere else in Canada. As is often the case with vague notions like interprovincial trade barriers, the devil will be in the details of the Manitoba NDP government's interprovincial trade plans. And these details will only be addressed when the government makes untold numbers of regulatory changes now that Bill 47 has become law. But Manitoba's unions will do all that we can to ensure that Manitoba strikes the right balance regarding common sense trade reforms and the best interests of Manitoba workers. Kevin Rebeck is the president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour.
