News Releases

Media Bulletin - Manitoba

December 8, 2016

Premier Announces Appointments to the Premier's Enterprise Team



Premier Brian Pallister today announced the appointment of the Premier’s Enterprise Team (PET), an independent advisory panel of entrepreneurs that will provide advice and recommendations for job creation and economic development across Manitoba.

Chair of PET Hartley Richardson, vice-chair Barb Gamey, and members Paul Mahon, Maureen Prendiville, Ashleigh Everett, Gerry Price, Wadood Ibrahim, Edward Kennedy, Sean McCormick, Fiona Mourant, John Heimbecker, Barbara Bowes and Rene Pereux were announced by the premier earlier today at his inaugural State of the Province address.

“Manitoba’s new Premier’s Enterprise Team will offer its vast entrepreneurial and business expertise to the development of a new provincial strategy for economic growth,” said Pallister.  “This strategy will guide the future policy and funding decisions of government to ensure that our efforts are focused on Manitoba’s many untapped opportunities for sustainable, long-term economic development.”

The Premier’s Enterprise Team will incorporate elements of the government’s work to reduce red tape, increase access to venture capital, and to expand trade and workforce training to meet the needs of Manitoba’s job-creating sectors such as aerospace and advanced manufacturing, value-added agricultural processing and industries attracted by the province’s clean hydroelectric energy, Pallister noted.

“I am honoured to serve as chair of the Premier’s Enterprise Team alongside some of the most highly regarded and respected individuals from our business community,” said Richardson.  “We very much look forward to sharing best practices in an effort to advance the relationship between the public and private sector and move Manitoba toward a sustainable economic future.”

The PET will meet on a quarterly basis at minimum and will focus its efforts on refining a provincial economic development strategy that builds upon the government’s 10-point economic outline, the premier said, noting the panel will also consider and incorporate applicable work conducted by outside groups, such as the Manitoba Bold initiative of the Chamber of Commerce.

The group will also provide recommendations to government with respect to the following categories:

  • attraction of new investment,
  • promotion of Manitoba as an attractive trading partner,
  • improved economic competitiveness,
  • expanding Manitoba’s skilled workforce, and
  • increasing economic resilience in the face of climate change.

“With many opportunities that have not been supported by any long-term, sustainable vision, particularly in the more remote and rural communities of our province, business owners, community leaders and chambers of commerce have been calling for a focus on growth,” said the premier.  “Manitoba offers a diverse economic base, incredible entrepreneurial talent, and a workforce that is both skilled and hard-working.  Under our government, Manitoba is once again open for business.”

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED




Backgrounder
Background Information - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2016/12/BACKGROUNDER_for_RLS-PET-PR.doc