U.S. alcohol returning to Manitoba shelves but premier wants to 'Trump-proof' economy

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is pausing the removal of U.S. alcohol from liquor store shelves in the province.

Kinew made the announcement Monday after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on social media that the U.S. will hold off on levying 25 per cent tariffs on Canada for at least the next 30 days.

"The fact that we, along with other provinces, were banning U.S. booze from the shelves — along with the counter-tariffs by the federal government that we supported — I think got the attention of the United States of America," Kinew said.

The premier said this is a reprieve and the situation is going to continue to play out in the long term.

But Kinew also said there is still a need to "Trump-proof" Canada's economy, including searching for more diverse export markets, and that productivity investments in Manitoba need to move forward.

There's a greater need to look for export partners in the European Union, Asia and other parts of the globe, he said.

Manitoba also needs to get better at "making stuff," including in the technological, agricultural and mining sectors, so there's less reliance on the U.S. market, he said.

"It's very clear that we have to start planning our economy to be more resilient and to be able to withstand these sort of situations, so that we don't find ourselves in a similar position going forward," Kinew said.

Discussions about barring U.S. companies from bidding on provincial contracts are also on hold, the premier said.

Kevin Rebeck is a big proponent of looking at procurement.

Despite the pause on tariffs, the president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour would like to see the province take strides to ensure that it's putting Manitobans to work ahead of individuals from outside regions.

He would also like to see there be easier access to income supports and for job stimulus programs to put be put in place. The federation represents over 130,000 workers in the province.

"We were threatened by our partner — our ally here. We need to make sure that we're looking after our economy and our local economy first, and that's something labour long advocated for, that our local economy matters the most," Rebeck said Monday on Up to Speed.

"And when times are tough, it's proving that's what people need to turn back to, and that means making sure that we're investing in Manitoba businesses, Manitoba jobs and keeping people working here."

He's happy to hear of the pause on tariffs and the push to buy local products, but says there's still a feeling of uncertainty.

"We still have a very real threat of many people's livelihoods and jobs, so we're deeply concerned about that," Rebeck said."I think while that may kick things down the road a little bit, it won't change some of the things that we need to be prepared to do to protect good jobs here in Manitoba."

LISTEN | Labour president says the interests of Manitoba must come first: 

Up To Speed6:56How a trade war might affect Manitoban jobs

As the threat of a trade war looms, the Manitoba Federation of Labour is pushing both the federal and provincial governments to prioritize workers. Kevin Rebeck is the president of the organization. He spoke with Up To Speed's Faith Fundal.

'No quarrel' with Americans: Kinew

Earlier Monday, the premier said he was looking for ways to prevent U.S. companies from bidding on provincial contracts in response to the 25 per cent tariff that U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened to impose on almost all Canadian goods starting Tuesday.

"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 were asked to look at potential changes to procurement procedures, Kinew said earlier Monday, before Trudeau posted about the tariff delay. Kinew spoke just before meeting with Manitoba's new U.S. Trade Council and community leaders at the legislative building in Winnipeg to discuss the province's response to the expected tariffs.

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."

U.S. alcohol returning to Manitoba shelves but premier wants to 'Trump-proof' economy

6 hours ago

Duration 2:30

Kentucky bourbon and Tennessee whiskey are staying on shelves in Manitoba, along with a separate pledge by Wab Kinew's government to prevent U.S. companies from bidding on Manitoba contracts.