Archived News Releases

October 13, 2004

Winnipeg, Manitoba – The Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreement will provide SEED Winnipeg with $98,550 to set up an online database to link Winnipeg's core businesses and encourage the sale and purchase of goods and services.

“The Social Purchasing Portal is an excellent example of the initiatives funded under the Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreement,” said the Honourable Reg Alcock, President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport). “It's about fostering mutually beneficial business relationships, increasing economic activity and creating new employment and opportunities for inner city residents.”

“This project is consistent with the province's commitment to community economic development and inner city revitalization,” said Manitoba Finance Minister Greg Selinger. “When businesses in our capital city's core help each other, the positive effect of the economic growth spreads beyond the community and we all benefit.”

Project funding will provide the Social Purchasing Portal (SPP) with the initial two-year start-up costs. It is expected that the SPP will become self-sustaining over that period through the sale of supplier and purchaser sponsorships, advertising on the Web site, enhanced supplier pages and other related revenues. Anticipated increases in business volumes are expected to create additional employee requirements that would provide employment opportunities for area residents. 

The SPP targets economic growth in Winnipeg's Inner City meeting the Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreement strategic priorities of "building our economy" and "sustainable communities.”

SEED Winnipeg is a registered non-profit charitable organization. Its mandate is to combat poverty and assist in the renewal of inner city communities by providing services to help low-income individuals, groups, organizations and economically distressed neighbourhoods improve their social and economic vitality.

“We're very excited about the Social Purchasing Portal because it's about inner-city businesses coming together to support each other and create additional employment opportunities in the community,” said Cindy Coker, SEED Winnipeg Executive Director. “It's community economic development at its best and we're very pleased to be leading this project.”

In December 2003, the governments of Canada and Manitoba entered into a new four-year Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Together, and in partnership with community stakeholders, Canada and Manitoba are working to strengthen and diversify Manitoba's economy, build on existing economic strengths, enhance the skills of Manitoba's workforce and promote regional development.

Federal funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 budget.

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