News Releases

The provincial government will work aggressively to build on recommendations contained in a new committee report on boosting economic opportunities across rural and northern Manitoba, Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk announced today.

 

A new provincewide campaign encouraging shoppers to support local producers by buying Manitoban is the first step in a major strategy to co-ordinate and expand initiatives to strengthen Manitoba’s rural economy, Wowchuk said.

 

“Our government is committed to working with rural and northern communities to ensure a bright economic future for cities and towns across Manitoba. We will build on the rich assets our communities offer to develop new, economically-sustainable opportunities that go beyond primary production and take advantage of the innovation so abundant in our province.”

 

Wowchuk today released a report authored by the Creating Opportunities committee, the product of consultations with more than 330 participants in 10 communities in rural and northern Manitoba.  The report highlights a number of themes of value-added opportunities that were consistently identified during the consultations.

 

A new action plan based on the report’s recommendations will guide new economic development initiatives in six areas:

·         alternative energy,

·         tourism,

·         agriculture,

·         natural resources,

·         industry services and manufacturing, and

·         Aboriginal and northern projects.

  

The minister said new economic development projects will build on successful initiatives the government has already undertaken including wind power, biofuels, rural entrepreneurship, tourism, agri-foods, composites and other projects.

 

“Before our government came into office, there were no wind farms in Manitoba.  There were no plans to develop opportunities related to biodiesel and ethanol, and there was no functional foods sector to speak of,” Wowchuk said.  “We’ve made significant accomplishments working in partnership with rural communities and today I’m pledging to build on the work we’ve done.”

 

Wowchuk said a new advertising campaign to promote made-in-Manitoba food products will be among the first new steps in the province’s Creating Opportunities strategy.  The ads encourage consumers to support Manitoba producers by looking for food items produced in the province.  

 

A companion website will include a listing of Manitoba-made foods.  The minister noted the new website will remain a work in progress, updated regularly as additional products are added.  The Manitoba-made online shopping list can be accessed by following the links from http://www.manitoba.ca.

 

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