Manitoba trade rep’s $387K salary called ‘preposterous’ by Opposition Tories

The Opposition Tories are criticizing the yearly salary of the province’s trade representative in Washington, D.C.

WINNIPEG — Former television news reporter Richard Madan is collecting a salary of $387,000 a year as Manitoba’s trade representative in Washington, D.C., the premier’s office has revealed.

The salary is comparable to money spent by other provinces on trade offices or third-party lobby firms, the premier’s office said Thursday.

But the Opposition Progressive Conservatives said Madan’s wage is out of line for someone with no trade background.

“Paying someone almost $400,000 — to someone with no experience in that — is preposterous,” Tory Leader Obby Khan said.

“The prime minister of Canada makes $405,000 ... the premier and the mayor (of Winnipeg) combined are making about what this person is making.”

Premier Wab Kinew said Madan is the right fit for the job and the salary was the result of negotiation.

“The guy’s great. The guy’s got the smarts, he’s got the look, he’s got the connections in D.C. to be able to advocate for our province,” Kinew told reporters.

“Making the case with the administration, making the case with the president, it’s all part of the work Mr. Madan has taken on. And this is a huge, huge value to our province. It’s an important investment.”

Kinew’s office, in a written statement, said Madan has met with Manitoba business and agriculture groups, set up an office inside the Canadian Embassy and is organizing an upcoming “advocacy day,” where U.S. lawmakers will learn about Manitoba’s contributions to supply chains and Arctic defence.

Madan was hired in June, and the government initially did not disclose his salary. The only figure released at the time was $800,000 for total office costs in the fiscal year that started in April.

That amount could include costs such as office rent, travel expenses and salaries of other staff.

Madan worked for media outlets such as CTV and CBC before being named to the trade post. At the time of his hiring, he said he did not have a trade background but came armed with connections in Washington and skills in building and maintaining relationships.

Khan said Thursday he had yet to notice any concrete results for Manitoba businesses from Madan’s work.

The Ontario government pays its trade representative $364,000 a year, plus housing subsidies and other costs, and also hires a Washington lobby firm, Kinew’s office said.

Khan said unlike Madan, Ontario representative David Paterson has an extensive business background as a former senior executive at General Motors Canada and BlackBerry, among others.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2025.

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press