One the question of Manitoba’s economic future, there is real alignment worth building on between the federal and provincial government.

I recently met with Premier Wab Kinew to discuss Manitoba’s economic development priorities, with a particular focus on how the province and the federal government can work together to advance opportunities led by Manitobans, for Manitobans.

Our conversation covered significant ground: the Port of Churchill Plus Project and its potential as a national trade corridor, Manitoba’s critical minerals sector and its role in Canada’s clean energy transition, and the infrastructure investments — from the Build Communities Strong Fund to northern transportation — that will determine whether the North’s economic potential becomes economic reality.

I want to be clear about something: Churchill–Keewatinook Aski is not a periphery to Manitoba’s economic story. It is central to it. The minerals beneath this riding, the trade route through Churchill, the workforce being trained at UCN — these are not northern footnotes. They are the foundation of where this province is headed.

Premier Kinew and I share a commitment to ensuring that Manitoba’s growth includes the North as a full partner — not an afterthought. This was a productive, substantive conversation, and I look forward to continuing this collaboration as these files move forward.

We are a gifted province with so much potential. And when we bring that energy to the national table, great things happen.

In April, Manitoba’s business and economic development leaders were in Ottawa — building the relationships that will shape a prosperous future for our province and our country. It was exactly the kind of engagement that northern Manitoba needs to be part of, and I was proud to be in the room.

Churchill–Keewatinook Aski sits at the intersection of some of the most significant economic opportunities in Canada. Critical minerals. The Port of Churchill. Boreal resources. Tourism anchored in world-class wilderness and Indigenous cultural experiences. A workforce with deep northern knowledge and an entrepreneurial spirit that does not wait for permission.

But potential alone does not build prosperity. It takes relationships. It takes presence at the tables where decisions are made. And it takes a federal government that understands the North is a partner in Canada’s economic future.

The conversations that happened in Ottawa in April were about exactly that. Aligning Manitoba’s priorities with federal investment. Building the connections between northern business leaders and the national networks that can amplify what this province is already doing. Making the case — clearly and persistently that Manitoba’s north is not a peripheral story. It is central to Canada’s economic ambitions.

Manitoba is stepping up to advance Canada’s economic, trade, and national priorities. The North is part of that story. And this office will keep making sure it stays that way.

We are just getting started.

Miigwech · Kinana’skomitin · Pidamaya ye · Mahsi cho · Nakurmiik · Merci · Thank you