Leaders questioned on equity in economy during debate

How the victor of the upcoming provincial election will support Black and French speaking communities was the subject of debate Thursday evening, as the leaders of three Manitoba political parties outlined their plans to increase equity in Manitoba’s economic sector.

Around 90 people gathered within an auditorium at Université de Saint-Boniface to hear Opposition NDP Leader Wab Kinew, Manitoba Liberal leader Dougald Lamont and Janine Gibson, leader of the provincial Green Party, plead their political cases.

The slate of questions focused on how each respective party planned to support minority business owners, bolster the French-speaking workforce and foster economic development.

The Black-Manitobans Chamber of Commerce hosted the debate alongside the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities, La Chambre de commerce francophone de Saint-Boniface and the university.

The forum presented an opportunity for the leaders to display their bilingualism, with the questions and responses delivered in French and English.

Kinew, who attended high school at nearby Collège Béliveau, opted to deliver all remarks in French. Lamont, a life-long French speaker and Saint-Boniface MLA alternated between languages, speaking both fluently. Gibson spoke English.

“One of the ways we want to go about it is to have it driven by entrepreneurs and be driven by grassroots economic development,” Lamont said, when asked to explain how his party would engage with Black and Francophone entrepreneurs.

The Liberal leader proposed a new business development bank, which would offer equity to new businesses, rather than loans. The system would buy a portion of the proposed business, allowing entrepreneurs secure start-up funding without needing property or other assets as collateral.

Kinew pointed to government procurement as a potential avenue to economic support.

“The government spends billions of dollars a year and we ought to be able to use that in a smart way to advance opportunities for the Francophone community, for the members of the Black Chamber of Commerce and for other entrepreneurs from other walks of life,” he said, speaking to reporters in English after the debate .

Gibson suggested green bonds could be sold to subsidise investments in education, health, construction and housing developments.

All of the party leaders agreed investments in social enterprises would enrich communities.

Absent from the event was representation from the Progressive Conservatives.

Premier Heather Stefanson was extended an invitation, but declined to attend. The Tories offered to send another spokesperson in her stead, but the chamber refused, organization president Zita Somakoko said in an email.

Stefanson, Kinew and Lamont met Tuesday morning for a separate leaders’ debate, the first of what will likely be several similar forums before the Oct. 3 provincial election.

Somakoko founded the Black chamber of commerce last April to represents Black entrepreneurs and community leaders in Manitoba. At the time, Stefanson lauded the organization for the bringing diversity and representation to the provincial economy.

“There is a growing movement of Black chambers of commerce across Canada, and I am so honoured and happy to see this distinct platform come here to Manitoba,” she said.

According to the chamber, there are roughly 500 Black-owned businesses across the province.

The PC party did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.

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