Your deputy minister just got told off by the Premier. Yikes.
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon. You know, we don't often see a provincial premier publicly scolding one of his own deputy ministers. It just doesn't happen, especially not over something as seemingly mundane as a LinkedIn post. But Premier Kinew took that rare step against a deputy minister who posted about a U.S. trip with an executive from Sio Silica, a company with a contentious silica sand mining project in Manitoba. It's a clear signal from the top that transparency and appearances matter, even in the digital age.
### The Problem with LinkedIn
This isn't just some administrative blip; it speaks to the tightrope walk public officials have to manage. The deputy minister was on a trip to the U.S. with the Sio Silica exec, and the post on LinkedIn made it look a little too cozy, a little too much like an endorsement. For those of us up here, watching the ebb and flow of mining projects and their impacts, seeing government officials appearing to be in lockstep with a specific company raises eyebrows. It really does, especially when community concerns around environmental impact are on the table.
* **Perception Matters:** Even if nothing improper happened, the appearance of a close relationship between government and a company seeking approvals can erode public trust. * **Kinew's Stance:** The Premier's quick and public reprimand shows he's serious about setting a precedent for his government's interactions with industry, particularly on sensitive resource projects. * **Local Relevance:** While the Sio Silica project is far south of us, the principle is the same. Mining is Flin Flon's lifeblood, and we need our government to be fair and transparent in all dealings, whether it’s Hudbay or a new prospector hoping to stake a claim near Ross Lake.
It’s a reminder that even in a digital world, the old rules of public service — discretion, impartiality, and avoiding conflicts of interest — still hold true. What happens in Winnipeg eventually trickles up here, especially when it concerns how resource development is managed. We've seen firsthand how important it is for decisions to be made on solid ground, not just what looks good on a social media feed.
Cole Chicken, MiTL Sports Desk, Flin Flon.
The guys on the morning show are probably having a field day with this — catch their take at mornings.live.