Cabinet retreat brings scheduling heat
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/01/2020 (1534 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s looming visit to Winnipeg has drummed up interest from across the city — and questions about whether his ministers will meet with any Manitobans.
“At this point in their mandate, it really doesn’t mean anything unless they have these difficult conversations,” said Conservative MP Candice Bergen (Portage—Lisgar).
Trudeau is hosting a three-day cabinet retreat starting Sunday, where nearly three dozen ministers will hash out their plans and priorities for the winter session of Parliament.
The federal Liberals have held cabinet retreats in different provinces, often inviting premiers and mayors, and occasionally groups impacted by major policy decisions.
Guests at such retreats generally make presentations and answer ministers’ questions. There are generally few policy or spending announcements.
Premier Brian Pallister intends to meet with Trudeau about the Interlake flood-channel outlets and the carbon tax, while Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman’s office said there has been no formal meeting set, but “the mayor corresponds with the prime minister on a regular basis.”
Keystone Agricultural Producers invited Trudeau in early November to visit a Manitoba farm and learn about the multiple issues impacting the sector.
KAP had raised growing frustrations with the federal carbon tax, which the Liberals have exempted from some agricultural tasks, though it is still adding thousands to farmers’ bills. The PMO took six weeks to acknowledge KAP’s letter.
“We hope their team has the opportunity to visit Manitoba farmers to see firsthand the issues we face every day,” the group wrote Wednesday.
Bergen argues Trudeau needs to meet with groups like KAP to justify the expense of bringing his ministers to Manitoba.
When Trudeau’s office announced the Winnipeg retreat, it specifically cited the need to hear the concerns of Western Canada, where many of his ministers have made their first trips.
Bergen said, in that spirit, Trudeau should invite reeves from rural municipalities grappling with infrastructure needs, and first responders dealing with crime borne from the meth crisis.
“If they don’t have these meetings, and hear some of the tough stories and the tough responses to their legislation, then I find it’s not helpful that they come here — in fact it’s more harmful,” the Tory MP said, fearing the retreat will instead involve photo-ops and meetings with political allies.
Bergen was particularly interested in having the Liberals explain to local governments how they intend to expedite infrastructure funding, after Ottawa found hurdles in getting the money they’d pledged out the door.
Trudeau announced his Winnipeg retreat Monday. Since then, there hasn’t been an invite extended to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, Manitoba Aerospace Association, nor Manitoba Metis Federation.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs did not respond to a request for comment.
It’s unclear if Trudeau will partake in any events for the ongoing Manitoba 150 celebrations.
The ministers will have their work cut out for them. Sunday and Monday will be packed with discussions over everything from the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion and Indigenous issues, to how to roll out gun-control measures, to how new spending programs in the budget this spring will match up with uncertain global economic trends.
Trudeau’s advisor for the Prairies, Winnipeg MP Jim Carr, is set to brief the cabinet on what he’s heard from visits to Alberta and Saskatchewan, where the Liberals lost all their seats in last fall’s election.
Ministers will likely make their own visits to local groups while in town for the retreat.
For example, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth Bardish Chagger is visiting the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on Saturday, and meeting with advocates of some local initiatives that touch on diversity.
dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca