Manitoba’s NDP government is giving itself eight years to make good on a campaign promise to create 10,000 new skilled-trades jobs.
The two-term timeline was handed to Economic Development Minister Jamie Moses in a mandate letter written by Premier Wab Kinew and released to the public this week.
Remaining mandate letters issued to Kinew’s cabinet were made public on Tuesday.
Economic Development Minister Jamie Moses will head up the Premier’s Business and Jobs Council and develop a critical minerals strategy. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)
On the campaign trail, Kinew pledged to add 10,000 new jobs through his party’s infrastructure plan while backed by construction electricians from the IBEW 2085.
Moses (St.Vital) was also tasked with heading up the Premier’s Business and Jobs Council, develop a critical minerals strategy and work with Canada-U.S. trade advisor Gary Doer to advance trading partnerships as immediate priorities.
Manitoba Building Trades executive director Tanya Palson said the government’s timeline to add new skilled-trade jobs is “right on target.” The advocacy organization represents over 10,000 construction and trades people who are members of 13 unions.
“It’s always good to be somewhat ambitious, but I think that this is very feasible, it’s very reachable,” Palson said.
“It’s probably only about a 30 per cent increase above where we’re at status quo, just putting people in the industry and looking ahead at what projects we’re going to have to build.”
Palson said she expects infrastructure spending to increase, owing in part to critical mineral development and green energy projects, and drive demand for labour.
The NDP also promised to ensure publicly funded infrastructure jobs — including positions created in the course of building three new emergency rooms — go to Manitoba residents.
“It’s going to require significant investments in apprenticeship, investments in awareness of skilled-trades careers, and making sure that those pathways, both for recruiting people but also retaining them, are supported,” Palson said.
“It’s good to see the commitment. We’re excited to work with them on getting there.”
Kinew’s ministerial mandate letters contained no major surprises. The letters reiterated and prioritized his party’s campaign commitments while setting the tone for the government.
“Delivering on our core election commitments within a balanced budget is critical to fulfilling the mandate Manitobans have given us,”– Premier Wab Kinew in his mandate letters to all ministers
“Delivering on our core election commitments within a balanced budget is critical to fulfilling the mandate Manitobans have given us,” Kinew wrote to all ministers.
Finance Minister Adrien Sala, who is responsible for Manitoba Hydro, did not receive any specific direction on the Crown corporation other than to be a “good steward of our province’s crown jewel.”
Sala was mandated to freeze electricity rates for one year as an immediate priority and repeal the controversial Bill 36, which legislated debt reduction targets for Manitoba Hydro.
He was also directed to reduce unspecified inefficiencies and unnecessary government expenditures.
Kinew directed Housing Minister Bernadette Smith to make ending chronic homelessness an immediate priority for her department. She was also mandated to open a supervised consumption site in downtown Winnipeg.
Among his other priorities, Sport Minister Glen Simard was mandated to end racism in sports through government policies.
In carrying out his responsibilities, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe was also directed to acknowledge and respond to the “the disproportionate representation of Indigenous Manitobans in the justice system.”
