Allied forces on the green economy front? – Winnipeg Free Press

Britain's top diplomat in Canada slept on a wooden plank during a recent visit to Manitoba.

Sleep – or a few hours of it – preceded a day of promoting Manitoba-United Kingdom relations with professional certifications and discussions of essential minerals at the Manitoba Legislature Building.

“We heard very clearly today: we recognize that building the green economy of the future is the best way to create really good, high-value jobs for people,” said Suzanne Goshko, the British High Commissioner to Canada.

Goshko and British Consul General Jonathan Turner met with Manitoba's premier and trade minister on Wednesday.

“When people are talking about the approach (to the green economy), it really feels like the conversations we're having in the UK,” Goshko said.

Last month, negotiators suspended talks on a trade deal between Canada and Britain. At issue was how much tariff-free access Britain should have to the Canadian cheese market.

Goshko said the break would not affect most Canadian-UK trade, nor his own discussions in Manitoba.

Instead, during the interview Free pressGoshko noted cooperation, such as the Canadian and British militaries.

The British are training in cold weather near Springer Lake, 155 kilometers north of Winnipeg. Goshko visited the troops on Tuesday and slept like them in the open air in a wooden apartment.

“We all want the weather to be normal, but it was probably a good experience that it wasn't -30C on Tuesday night,” he said with a laugh.

The British moved their annual training from Norway to Canada several years ago, Goshko said. Now, for several weeks a year, British troops use the Canadian military's land to train them in survival skills, such as building snow shelters.

After leaving military training, Goshko made his way to Winnipeg; it is looking at other ways to connect Canada and the UK.

The diplomat spoke to Manitoba's elected officials about the recognition of professional qualifications between the UK and Canada.

“I think it's a real … benefit for businesses in Canada and the UK,” he said. “I'm really passionate about it.”

Turner focused on engineers – the UK has clean energy professionals who could do well in Canada, he said.

“I think it's a very interesting area,” he added. “We're both interested in building that supply chain from a clean energy perspective.”

Goshko said he questioned Manitoba politicians about the province's critical mineral development trajectory.

A request for an interview with Commerce Minister Jamie Moses went unanswered Thursday.

Canada's clean energy supply chain and skilled workers could overlap with Britain's, Goshko added.

“I want us to solve this as soon as possible,” he said, pointing to upcoming greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. “The pace at which we're moving certainly requires us to be faster.”

In addition, there are British companies interested in participating in significant mineral development in Manitoba, Goshko said.

A direct flight between Winnipeg and London would improve trade and communications, Turner acknowledged.

Goshko “has nothing new to share other than to encourage any company interested in marking the route…I'm sure there will be a lot of interest if a company is willing to do it.”

The British High Commissioner will visit all Canadian provinces to promote opportunities with the UK. Trade is currently conducted under the UK-Canada Continuity of Trade Agreement. The pact entered into force in 2021.

The UK was Canada's third most important export market in 2022.

Canada's largest exports were metallic and non-metallic mineral products; Canadian statistics show that the country exported $12 billion worth of gold to Great Britain.

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Gabriel Piche
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Gabby is a big fan of people, writing and reading. She graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in spring 2020.

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