On January 15, 2026, the province announced three new subcommittees to help grow tourism, train workers and diversify trade across Manitoba. Premier Wab Kinew said the Premier’s Business and Jobs Council is adding these teams to respond better to economic changes and threats like potential U.S. tariffs; the announcement was made in Winnipeg and the mandate covers the whole province, with particular relevance to border communities such as Morris.
The new Trade Diversification subcommittee will look for ways to keep goods moving and find new markets, which is important for Morris because the town sits on Provincial Trunk Highway 75, a major route to the United States. The Workforce Development subcommittee will focus on training people for new jobs and helping local businesses find the skilled workers they need.
For local attractions like the Manitoba Stampede, the new Tourism subcommittee offers a clearer provincial body for regional organizers to engage with. The Valley Agricultural Society and other local organizers in Morris could use this avenue to seek provincial support for events and marketing.
The Premier’s Business and Jobs Council was created in December 2023 to bring business, labour and Indigenous leaders together. The council is co‑chaired by Ash Modha, CEO of Mondetta Clothing, and Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour. Co‑chair Ash Modha said refreshing the council’s subcommittees will help keep work focused on the challenges employers and workers are raising.
