Primary Role

Federal-Provincial Relations provides strategic policy advice, analysis and support in Manitoba’s relationships with the federal government and other provincial/territorial governments on matters of intergovernmental significance. The Branch promotes Manitoba’s interests in the development of interprovincial/territorial positions and policies through the Council of the Federation and through relationships with other provinces and territories.  The Branch also promotes Manitoba's interests to the federal government in the development and implementation of Canada-wide policies and programs.

Manitoba Federal-Provincial Relations' activities relate to other provincial and territorial governments and the federal government.  This is distinct from the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs, which addresses local and municipal issues.  The Federal-Provincial Relations branch works outside the province, but within Canada, and Intergovernmental Affairs works with cities, towns, rural municipalities, community organizations, and businesses within Manitoba.  Issues of international significance are supported through the Canada-U.S. and International Relations branch, a separate branch in the Department of Competitiveness, Training and Trade.

In Manitoba, the Minister of Federal-Provincial Relations is the Premier, The Honourable Greg Selinger.

Primary Issues

The issues in which the Federal-Provincial Relations branch are involved tend to change over time, sometimes quite quickly.  Issues of "national importance" are determined not only through intergovernmental dialogue in Canada, but through external events which can shift the dialogue occurring among governments in a new direction.  The primary issues supported by the branch are determined through the various Premiers' meetings that occur throughout the year.

Key Events

• First Ministers' meetings (Premiers and the Prime Minister)
• Council of the Federation meetings (Premiers of all provinces and territories)
• Western Premiers' Conference (Premier and Territorial leaders from western Canada)
• A broad range of bilateral and multilateral meetings between the Premier and the Prime Minister, Federal Ministers and other Premiers.

For information on the outcomes of the Western Premiers' Conferences and other Ministerial meetings, please visit the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat website.

Annual Reports

2007-08 Annual Report for Department of Finance