The second Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC) Economic Development Tour of the fall brought a delegation to The Pas, a town closely connected with its neighbors, Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) and the RM of Kelsey. This visit was unique as it included access to the University College of the North (UCN) Linkages event, a 1.5-day conference focused on economic development in The Pas and Northern Manitoba.
Attendees were welcomed by The Pas mayor Andre Murphy, Minister Judy Mayer of the Manitoba Métis Federation, and Ginger Martin, CEO of Paskwayak Business Development Corporation (PBDC). Other notable figures included Johnathon Lalonde, an economic development officer with The Pas Community Development Corporation, Holly Courchene of Indigenous Tourism Manitoba, and Jackie Tenuta of Travel Manitoba, as well as a cohort of provincial deputy ministers It was great to have these important government decision-makers join us for the tour and conference!
Linkages Conference
The UCN Linkages conference brought together a diverse group of speakers and panels to discuss the future of technology, infrastructure, and community development, while also providing important networking to the delegation. Highlights of the conference include:
Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Concerns
Innovation strategist Sean Kanungo kicked off the conference with a dynamic discussion that emphasized the dual nature of artificial intelligence (AI), presenting both opportunities and concerns. His mantra, “work scared until you’re scary,” underscored the importance of pushing boundaries while remaining cautious.
Ramy Nassar, an AI and emerging technology expert, closed the conference’s first day talking about AI as a “tornado” in our future with unpredictable impact, and suggesting that we need strategic foresight to equip young people with skills they’ll need for jobs that likely don’t even exist yet.
Tech Manitoba: Tech for Good
Tech Manitoba showcased their “tech for good” strategy, which includes innovative programming like mobile labs that can be deployed in remote communities. This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure that technology benefits all Manitobans.
Canada Infrastructure Bank: Bridging Funding Gaps
Jodie Parmar from the Canada Infrastructure Bank highlighted its role in funding projects that fall between the typical support of private and public sectors, such as public EV chargers, which are crucial for the transition to sustainable transportation.
Deputy Minister Panel: Diverse Goals for Development
A panel of deputy ministers discussed various strategies to support Manitoba’s growth, including:
- protecting workers and addressing labour shortages through immigration (Bernadette Preun – Labour and Immigration)
- creating pathways to good jobs through education (Jan Forrester – Advanced Education)
- Northern MB tourism strategy and support of the Indigenous Tourism Association (Jeff Hnatiuk – Sport, Culture, and Heritage)
- targeting 10,000 new skilled worker jobs in the next eight years, with strategies including a critical mineral strategy and potential wildfire prevention and mitigation efforts (Dana Rudy – Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources)
Local Panel: Addressing Community Challenges
Local leaders including Mayor Murphy, PBDC CEO Martin, and Tara Elder-Young, Calm Air’s VP of Business Development & Marketing, discussed pressing local issues:
- Housing – a significant shortage, particularly on OCN land
- Transportation – high costs due to inflation and taxes
- Workforce – difficulty retaining young workers due to limited opportunities
- Infrastructure – need for more infrastructure to attract and develop businesses
They also identified opportunities:
- Tourism – potential for growth leveraging natural assets
- Indigenous economic development – increased partnerships and funding
- Entrepreneurship training – empowering young people to pursue local opportunities
Educational Partnerships and Indigenous Initiatives
Dr. Ramona Neckoway, UCN’s VP of Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation, highlighted a partnership between UCN and Royal Roads University in B.C., emphasizing the importance of aligning education with community needs. She also introduced UCN’s Speak Indigenous initiative, aimed at creating safe spaces for Indigenous languages.
Setting Your Own Agenda
Historian Ken Coates delivered a powerful message on economic development, stressing that “you cannot build an economy on grant applications.” He urged communities to set their own agenda, pursue transformative change to become global leaders, and not let outsiders decide their future.
The UCN Linkages conference was a rich tapestry of ideas and strategies, all aimed at fostering growth, innovation, and community resilience.
Post-Conference Tour Activities
MCC’s Economic Development Tour delegation wrapped up our visit with:
- A meeting with Paskwayak Business Development Corporation (PBDC) CEO Ginger Martin, OCN Councillor Edwin Jepp, and entrepreneur Darrel Brown, with presentations on various ongoing PBDC and OCN projects including the Commercial Strip Expansion, Egg Lake Healing Centre, and Clearwater Lake Resort.
- A tour to Clearwater Lake – known as the world’s third-clearest lake, with the bottom visible at nearly 40 feet deep! The tour showcased the natural beauty of Northern Manitoba and included a quick hike to see the Caves, a great way to stretch our legs after a busy day with the conference and meetings.
- A driving tour of Canadian Kraft Paper (CKP), which is globally recognized for the strength of its paper products. primarily concrete bags. Once a public asset, CKP is now partially owned by the Swampy Cree Tribal Council and is the area’s largest employer, with heat and power for its plant generated through local biomass.
- Dinner at local restaurant Good Thymes, before our Calm Air flight back to Winnipeg.
- If this tour sounded great, we encourage you to join MCC’s final Economic Development Tour of the year October 24th and 25th in Brandon!
