The economic horse pulls the social cart – and here in Manitoba, Indigenous Nations are starting to do some heavy lifting.
So as we face a changing, unprecedented economic climate, the path forward has to be one of collaboration – between governments and nations, and with the business community – so we can grow our economy and create good, family-supporting jobs for all Manitobans.
By partnering with Indigenous Nations to grow wind power, we’re building up the next generation of affordable energy in our province. The Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program will create thousands of jobs and share the economic growth and benefits with Indigenous Nations.
Our government is deeply committed to real Nation-to-Nation collaboration and we’re already seeing success from this approach.
Working together with the Southern Chiefs Organization and True North, we’re transforming Portage Place into a hub that will include homes and healthcare and help revitalize Winnipeg’s downtown.
Earlier this year, we came together with Marcel Colomb First Nation, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and Alamos Gold to break ground on a new gold mine in Northern Manitoba that will create hundreds of good jobs and grow our mineral sector.
Indigenous peoples, communities and nations have always played a big role in leading the way for our province. Right now, there are so many exciting Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs, who have the expertise and the energy we need to build up Manitoba for the next generation.
Projects like Naawi-Oodena are a great example of this. Treaty One Nations, supported by other levels of government, are creating a new economic hub at the old Kapyong Barracks. With the recent opening of Oodena Gas & Convenience, we can see the first signs that big transformations are coming.
As the provincial government, it’s our job to make sure that we’re creating opportunities, breaking down barriers and engaging as real partners with Indigenous governments and businesses. This is the work we’ve been doing since Day One and it’s the work we’re going to keep doing because it’s good for our communities, it’s good for reconciliation and it’s good for Manitoba.
As we continue to focus on big nation-building projects across our country, we must remember that there is no Canada without Indigenous Nations. And there is no progress without real collaboration.
When we work together in this way, we can achieve great things as a province, and as a nation. It’s the only way we ever have.
