The Provincial of Manitoba is signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Four Winds Group (Niiwin Wendaanimok Partnership) of Treaty #3 for the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway from Falcon Lake to the Ontario Border.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew was on Pow Wow Island on the Wauzhushk Onigum Nation (Rat Portage) for the agreement.
He says it’s important to include Indigenous partners in the project.
“The Trans-Canada here looks so beautiful here on the Ontario side, now we want to catch up, and maybe even surpass Ontario on the Manitoba side, and just bring everybody together in a good way,” Kinew said following the signing of the MOU.
“So it’s really nice to be in a traditional building to spend some time to listen to the priorities of the Anishinabek in this region.”
Kinew adds that it now becomes a friendly rivalry with Ontario who can finish the twinning first.
“You know, if I can say to my buddy the premier of Ontario Doug Ford, it’s a friendly competition now. We’re hoping to catch up and pass you guys. It’s all in good fun and hopefully we can shake hands at the border and connect the two twinning projects before too much time.”
The Niiwin Wendaanimok Partnership, made up of four First Nations in the Kenora area, have been involved in twinning the highway on the Ontario side of the border.
