Our team of Manitoba-based consultants and NDP insiders have you covered.
Manitoba has elected a historic new government led by Wab Kinew and the NDP.
Navigating the new political landscape in Manitoba can often be challenging and complex.
This is an important opportunity for you to build strong connections with the new government and advocate for your organization and your industry’s interests.
A trusted local partner can help you build relationships, communicate effectively, and ultimately achieve your goals.
That’s where Counsel Public Affairs comes in.
Meet the Team
Gord Mackintosh, Senior Advisor – Manitoba
Only a handful of Canadian politicians have spent more time as a senior provincial cabinet minister than Gord, who served over 25 years in both the Gary Doer and Greg Selinger NDP governments. Gord’s depth of experience in the Manitoba government includes overseeing the portfolios of Justice and Attorney General, Family Services and Housing, Conservation and Water Stewardship, and more.
Logan Ross, Senior Vice President – Manitoba
With over a decade of experience in Manitoba politics and government, Logan knows the ins and outs of how the Manitoba Government operates. Her past work includes working closely with all Deputy Ministers and the public service on the COVID-19 response and whole-of-government transformation projects. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Institute of Public Administration – Manitoba Chapter (IPAC), an organization dedicated to promoting public service and policy excellence.
Jodee Mason, Senior Account Director – Manitoba
With an unprecedented line-of-sight into the dynamics of the new administration, Jodee brings two decades of experience in Media, Strategic Communications, and Issues Management. She spent eight years working in Media Relations as Press Secretary to Cabinet and Issues Manager in the Doer and Selinger NDP governments. She has also worked closely with First Nations and comes to Counsel from the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union. Jodee began her career in the Manitoba media industry, quickly climbing the ranks as a Media Director at a Parkland radio station and later moved on to anchor the 6PM news cast for a TV station in Westman.
Jean-Marc Prevost, Vice President – Western Canada
Jean-Marc has held communications roles for eight ministers in the Manitoba government under Premiers Gary Doer and Greg Selinger, including leading communications for two record floods and Canada’s delegation to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. He has also has traveled to many First Nations across the prairies, working with Indigenous organizations to develop public and private partnerships that support Indigenous environmental, education, training, employment, and housing initiatives. Jean-Marc started his career as a journalist, working at CJOB, CityTV, and CTV Winnipeg. He also worked as a freelance contributor to The Carillon, CBC Manitoba, and the Winnipeg Free Press.
Learn more about Jean-Marc here.
Brad Lavigne, Partner – Western Canada
Named one of the Hill Times Top 100 Lobbyists, Brad has over 25 years of communications, government relations, and political experience. He served as the NDP National Campaign director in 2011 and as Principal Secretary and Director of Communications for the Hon. Jack Layton. He is the author of the bestselling book Building the Orange Wave: The Inside Story of the Historic Rise of Jack Layton and the NDP and is a weekly panelist on CBC News Network’s Power & Politics.
Jennifer Henshaw, Associate Vice President – Prairies
Combining her passion for government relations, public policy development, and communications, Jennifer is a key member of Counsel’s Manitoba team. With almost a decade’s worth of experience in Manitoba government-focused advocacy with both Restaurants Canada as the VP for the Prairies and the North and with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, as the Senior Policy Analyst in the Prairies, Jennifer has built a strong reputation with both political parties and has a proven ability to effectively advocate on a broad range of major policy issues. She also has a wealth of experience on the other side of the advocacy table, having held positions in the Prime Minister’s office and with multiple elected officials from the federal and provincial governments.
Wondering where to start?
Book a call with our Manitoba Team today.
Contact us: manitoba@counselpa.com | 204.720.3662
ICYMI: Webinar – FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE: What to expect from Manitoba’s new Government.
On December 13, 2023, Counsel Public Affairs hosted a webinar featuring special guests:
- Niigaan Sinclair, Columnist & Professor – University of Manitoba
- Kelly Saunders, Professor – Brandon University
- Tom Broadbeck, Columnist – Winnipeg Free Press
- Emily Coutts, Principal Secretary – Manitoba Premier’s Office
Watch the recorded version below.
Sign up to receive Counsel’s insights straight to your inbox.