Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew considers barring U.S. companies from bidding on provincial contracts

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Peggy

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says he’s looking for ways to prevent U.S. companies from bidding on provincial contracts in response to a new 25 per cent tariff imposed on almost all Canadian goods.

“We have no quarrel with the American people. These are our friends. These are our relatives,” Kinew said.

“But if their president is trying to take food out of our mouths, is trying to take jobs out of our province, then we have to stand up for ourselves.”

Manitoba cabinet ministers with portfolios tied to the economy have been asked to look at changes to procurement procedures, Kinew said Monday.

He spoke just before about two dozen members of Manitoba’s newly formed U.S. Trade Council and community leaders met at the legislative building in Winnipeg to discuss the province’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariffs.

The 25 per cent tariff on virtually all Canadian goods is expected to hit hard, and if it lasts long, will likely cause a recession, economists say.

A group of people sit around a large table — Premier Wab Kinew meets on Monday with members of the province’s U.S. Trade Council, representatives from industries and Indigenous leaders at the legislative building. (Trevor Brine/CBC)

The new trade council includes labour, business and Indigenous leaders, as well as representatives of the agriculture, mineral development and transportation industries.

“Unity is our strength, and I think we see the strength of our province represented around the table here,” Kinew said at the start of the meeting, before it went behind closed doors.

“It’s clear the current situation is much more than a trade dispute. This is also an attack on Canadian sovereignty and as a result of that … it’s important that we have a broader discussion than just exclusively trade issues and economic issues.”

Kinew wants the group to help define Manitoba’s response to support and protect jobs and the local economy.

“How we can increase productivity in our economy, and how we can diversify our export markets towards partners around the world who are going to treat us fairly and who are going to be predictable allies that we can build long-term business relationships with?” Kinew said.

“We do need to respond to the tariffs and the threat that they represent to our economy and to our jobs. And so I think the first thing that I’ll be asking folks around the table is for your advice and your insight into how we can support Manitobans.”

Monday’s meeting comes a day after Manitoba and other provinces announced plans to pull U.S. liquor products from store shelves.

Kinew promised further measures later this week, all in response to Trump’s plan to impose broad tariffs on Canadian goods, set to begin Tuesday.

Quebec Premier François Legault has also talked about restricting American access to public contracts, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday his province will terminate a $100-million contract with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to deliver high-speed internet to remote areas.