Kinew presses Manitoba priorities at first ministers meeting
Posted January 29, 2026 6:32 pm.
Last Updated January 29, 2026 10:32 pm.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says he used a first ministers meeting in Ottawa to push forward key provincial priorities, including expanded Arctic shipping through the Port of Churchill.
“Our specific ask today was to move the feasibly study through Transport Canada process and put pen to paper,” said Kinew.
Kinew was in Ottawa Thursday for meetings between Canada’s premiers and the prime minister. While national issues were on the agenda, Kinew said he focused on advancing Manitoba-specific files.
“A good day, a lot of common ground with the premiers and a very united Team Canada,” Kinew said.
Kinew said he raised the issue directly with Prime Minister Mark Carney, emphasizing the need for a feasibility study into icebreakers to support expanded Arctic shipping through the Port of Churchill.
“When you put together a private sector that’s starting to move, a federal government that has a new sense of urgency behind it and here is Manitoba the provincial government that really wants to see this happen, it seems like Manitoba time is really coming,” Kinew said.
Another priority raised at the meeting was the Manitoba Crown Indigenous Corporation, which Kinew says is now taking shape, highlighting talks around federal capacity building dollars.
“That would be for Indigenous nations, First Nations government, Metis government, to participate in that process which will lead to more investment, prosperity and more jobs,” Kinew said.
Kinew also said he spoke directly with Ontario Premier Doug Ford about an ongoing dispute involving Crown Royal’s distillery in Gimli.
“They want there to be a heated rivalry between Doug Ford and I,” Kinew said.
“If there’s just a maybe a way to take down the temperature and Diageo will be able to announce something for the Ontario worker, I think that’s the path forward to a resolution here,” Kinew said.
Overall, Kinew described the meeting as productive and said he was encouraged by the prime minister’s response to Manitoba’s priorities.
