Wab Kinew Walked Away from Pipeline—And Manitobans Are Right to Call Him Out

Three provinces signed a nation-building agreement this week. Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta committed to working together on new pipelines, rail corridors, and ports to move Canadian oil, gas, and critical minerals to market. It was a strategic move—smart, forward-looking, and rooted in economic necessity.

Premier Wab Kinew didn’t sign. He wasn’t in the photo. He wasn’t in the conversation. And he wasn’t representing Manitoba’s long-term interests when he opted out.

Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a contract to break ground tomorrow. This wasn’t a final deal. This was a simple memorandum of understanding—a starting point. A gesture that says, “We’re in. Let’s work together.” Kinew said no.

He claimed Manitoba couldn’t sign without full consensus from Indigenous communities. But that explanation doesn’t hold. The agreement itself reaffirms the duty to consult and includes commitments to Indigenous partnerships. Signing the MOU wouldn’t have bypassed Indigenous voices—it would have opened the door to shaping a project with them from day one.

Instead, Manitoba was left out. On purpose.

And Manitobans are taking notice. The reaction online has been sharp, and it’s been justified. Voters from across the province are asking the same question: Why would our Premier walk away from a deal that could bring investment, jobs, and long-term growth to Manitoba?

He says he’s focused on Churchill. Fine. That port could play a role in the future—but let’s deal with reality. Churchill is frozen for nearly half the year. It has limited capacity. It can handle one ocean vessel at a time, and it’s hundreds of kilometers from major industrial zones. Yes, it’s worth developing—but it is not the only answer.

We need both projects. That’s the real failure here.

This is not a one-or-the-other scenario. Supporting a northern port does not mean rejecting an east-west pipeline corridor. In fact, promoting both would double the opportunity for Manitoba. It would mean more construction. More investment. More employment. And more influence at the national table.

Kinew didn’t choose one project over another—he chose politics over progress. And now Manitoba is sitting on the sidelines while others move forward.

Let’s not pretend this is just about infrastructure. This is about economic positioning in a shifting Canada. U.S. tariffs are on the table. Supply chains are fragile. Investment capital is scarce, disappearing from Canada. Alberta and Saskatchewan have resources. Ontario has manufacturing and minerals. Manitoba has geography—and a decision to make.

We either link arms and play a central role in Canada’s next economic chapter, or we become an afterthought.

The Premier’s refusal to sign sends the wrong message to business leaders, both in Manitoba and across the country. It says Manitoba isn’t ready to compete. That we’re not interested in major projects. That we’re more focused on optics than outcomes.

And what about our incredible revenue opportunity selling minerals. Have you heard Kinew announce any new mines that have opened in this province? That’s not a political attack—it’s a fact. The world is demanding lithium, copper, and nickel. We have it. But under this government, the opportunity remains stuck in the ground.

A pipeline project crossing Manitoba, backed by provinces who are ready to invest, would create thousands of jobs and spur regional development. It could connect northern mining communities to real infrastructure. It could expand access to global markets. That’s what this MOU represented.

Churchill alone won’t carry this province forward. We’ve waited too long for one silver bullet. The smart play—the only responsible move—is to back multiple options. Put both projects on the table and start getting minerals out of the ground. Let competition and collaboration decide what’s best. That’s how real economies grow.

Premier Kinew must stop making decisions for applause. Governing is not about chasing likes or avoiding criticism from activists. It’s about listening to all Manitobans—including those who work in trades, energy, logistics, mining, and agriculture. Those voices matter too. And right now, they’re being ignored.

When the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario came together to sign the MOU, they weren’t just launching a policy. They were signalling to the rest of the country—and to global investors—that they’re serious. That they’re prepared to build. That they’re not going to wait around for permission.

Kinew missed that moment. He dismissed it as premature. But for many Manitobans, it looked like something else: a missed opportunity, at a time when we can’t afford many more.

If we want to grow this province, we need leadership that isn’t afraid to say yes. Yes to collaboration. Yes to infrastructure. Yes to real economic development. Manitoba needs to stop acting like a follower and start acting like a partner.

This was a moment to show vision. To support Churchill and the corridor. To back more than one project. To say, loud and clear, that Manitoba wants in.

Kinew said no. And he was wrong.

Let’s hope he listens to the Manitobans who are telling him so.