Kinew announces Westman cabinet office
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/11/2023 (941 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Westman residents will soon have a direct line to the New Democrat provincial government.
Premier Wab Kinew was in Brandon Friday to announce the opening of the NDP’s version of the Westman regional cabinet office to make communicating to the provincial government easier for residents, business, and other community organizations. Kinew made the announcement with Local MLA Glen Simard, Minister responsible for Sport, Heritage and Culture, Francophone affairs and the Manitoba Liquors and Lotteries Corporation at the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.
“I want to say that when our government was elected, Manitobans sent a clear message. Manitobans sent the message that they wanted us to work together with people from all walks of life, and all regions of the province to do good things for our shared future,” Kinew told a small crowd of media and supporters.
“We are one people we are one province. And we have one destiny that we’re going to pursue together in a good way. And today’s announcement is all about following through on that.”
The announcement, Kinew said, was part two of a pair of announcements this week that will directly affect the Brandon area. The first, a major Hydro plan that will bring more power to the city, announced on Thursday, and the second, the Westman regional cabinet office.
Former Brandon School Division trustee Jason Gobeil will lead the office as the new Westman outreach coordinator and function as a liaison between the NDP government and the Westman region. Kinew said Gobeil will be a government employee who will bring ideas, concerns and issues directly to the provincial government.
“When you have a priority here and Brandon, that needs to be addressed by our government, when you have an issue that needs to be brought forward and attended to by the province of Manitoba, or when you have that great idea to move things so long for granted or for the Westman region, I want to encourage you to reach out to Mr. Gobeil as that front door as that point of first contact to be able to bring not just your priorities, but also the urgent issues that you have for it to our government,” Kinew said.
The Westman regional office was something that the earlier Progressive Conservative government provided. Mayor Jeff Fawcett said he used the PC’s regional cabinet office frequently and he found it a better way to reach the provincial government in a timely manor. The staff, Fawcett said were his “direct Line” to ministers and cut a lot of processes and bureaucracy out.
Fawcett said he communicated his wish for the NDP version of a Westman cabinet office when Kinew and the NDP were first elected in October.
“One of our early discussions, as premier elect was by speaking to him about, I use the cabinet officer more than anybody, and the biggest client. Let’s make sure we have somebody in there who really can get things done. I utilize them all the time,” Fawcett said.
Gobeil, who has been involved in many local boards and volunteer organizations over the years, said he is eager to get started and help all people in Westman be heard. His plans are to keep regular office hours as well as travel throughout Westman.
“(I will) be an ear to the ground, make sure that we allow ourselves to be heard, to be listened to and to have had that message travel not just here in Westman, but right up there at the Premier’s office,” Gobeil said. “And I’m looking to be that conduit, that positive outlook that’s going to help create communications throughout Westman. And at the same time to helping that communication come outside the perimeter.”
The NDP’s version of the Westman regional cabinet office will be open to all people and all concerns, Gobeil said, and not just reserved for other levels of government and other business and organizations.
“I think this is a perfect opportunity (to) raise our voices in Westman, and that we’re not just telling ourselves as being heard, or we’re telling ourselves as being listened to,” added Gobeil.
Simard said his commitment to Brandon East will not change. The Brandon East MLA has set up Brandon office hours a few days a week and has staff in place for quicker response to any questions or concerns.
For the time being, the new Westman regional cabinet office will be housed in the current provincial building at 340 Ninth Street in Brandon. The timeline for opening the office was not provided.
» khenderson@brandonsun.com