Manitoba First Nations leadership joins Canada trade expedition to Mexico

Multiple Manitoba business leaders are in Mexico this week hoping to create new trade partnerships. Joseph Bernacki reports.

Manitoba First Nations leadership on the ground in Mexico said the time is now for expanded Canadian-Mexican trade talks.

“The trade missions have long been void of Indigenous leadership,” said Southern Chiefs’ Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels on Wednesday from Monterrey, Mexico.

“It’s very important that we’re working on developing that and not only ensuring that we’re sitting at the table, but we’re actually having some real outcomes.”

Daniels joined 370 provincial and federal delegates this week in Mexico.

He is one of three Indigenous leaders hoping to benefit from a knowledge exchange and said this week has been critical to forge new socioeconomic and cultural partnerships with Indigenous Mexican leaders.

On Monday - delegates toured Mexico City’s Universidad Panamericana, learning from students there how innovation in AI technology could improve Indigenous health care.

“We want to be able to move faster when it comes to diagnosing Indigenous people back home, you know, and so when we’re talking about health care, you know, AI is, I think, the future when it comes to diagnostics,” Daniels said.

He said he also made valuable connections with Indigenous business members from the City of Monterrey on Tuesday.

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said these trade talks are long overdue, noting it’s the first time AMC has been at the table.

“We’ve been saying from day one that First Nations need to be involved in any discussions when it comes to trade, resource development,” Wilson said.

Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, said there is a real appetite for Canadian-Mexican trade.

He said with more than 200 Canadian businesses on the team, it sends a strong message that Canada is open for business. The key to that success will be sustained talks in the coming months.

“That’s the key to doing trade is, it doesn’t happen by having one meeting,” Davidson said.

“It happens by starting that relationship, understanding what each side has to offer, and the hope by having this repeatedly is that there will be opportunities down the line.”

Jamie Moses, Minister for Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation in the province, who’s leading the provincial delegation, said Manitoba offers a specialized manufacturing sector that could benefit trade between the two nations.

“Some of Manitoba’s strengths are our agriculture and agri-food sector, and we have great representation from that sector here in Mexico,” Moses said.

“As well as we know our incredible track record on energy when it comes to Manitoba Hydro and being able to represent and do services and work with Mexican partners.”

The minister said diversity in trade relationships with other countries is necessary given an upcoming review of CUSMA negotiations and a strained relationship with the United States.