A former journalist from CTV and CBC, Richard Madan, was selected by the NDP government led by Wab Kinew to head Manitoba’s trade office in Washington, D.C. The premier’s office revealed that Madan is receiving an annual salary of $387,000. This amount surpasses the earnings of both Kinew, who makes $195,936 as Manitoba’s premier, and Scott Gillingham, earning $223,338 as Winnipeg’s mayor.
Madan’s appointment in June aimed to enhance Manitoba’s relationships with U.S. officials and industry leaders, safeguard the province’s interests in trade agreements, and boost trade ties. Kinew’s office stated that Madan swiftly adapted to his new role, leveraging his existing network in the U.S. capital.
Tasks undertaken by Madan include engaging with Manitobans, assisting the agricultural sector with U.S. country-of-origin labeling, addressing trade issues like the Canadian mushrooms investigation, and encouraging participation in consultations on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement renegotiation.
Furthermore, Madan is organizing an “advocacy day” on Capitol Hill to showcase Manitoba’s food and minerals supply chains and its contributions to Arctic defense. Despite these efforts, Opposition Leader Obby Khan criticized Madan’s salary and performance, questioning the value of his appointment.
Kinew defended the hiring decision, emphasizing Madan’s qualifications and connections to advocate for Manitoba effectively in Washington. The premier’s office highlighted that Madan’s salary aligns with remuneration for trade representatives in other provinces, such as Ontario’s David Paterson.
Khan suggested that Manitoba should consider hiring an experienced trade representative or lobbying firm, citing Ontario’s approach. Attempts to obtain details on Madan’s salary and the Washington office budget through a freedom-of-information request by CBC News have not been successful as of October 15.
