A former journalist from CTV and CBC, Richard Madan, has been employed by the NDP government led by Wab Kinew to oversee Manitoba’s trade office in Washington, D.C., with an annual salary of $387,000 as revealed by the premier’s office on Wednesday. Madan’s earnings surpass those of Kinew, who makes $195,936 as Manitoba premier, and Scott Gillingham, Winnipeg’s mayor, whose salary is $223,338 as of 2024.
Appointed in June, Madan’s primary responsibility is to enhance Manitoba’s relations with American elected officials, trade partners, and industry figures, while safeguarding the province’s interests in trade agreements, according to Kinew’s office. Ryan Stelter, a spokesperson for Kinew, stated that Madan swiftly acclimated to his new role due to his extensive network of contacts in the U.S. capital.
Since assuming the position, Madan has engaged with Manitobans, assisted the agricultural sector in navigating new U.S. country-of-origin labeling regulations, addressed emerging trade challenges like the U.S. investigation into Canadian mushrooms, and encouraged Manitobans to participate in discussions regarding the upcoming renegotiation of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement.
Moreover, Madan has initiated plans for a Capitol Hill “advocacy day” to showcase Manitoba’s food and mineral supply chains and its contributions to Arctic defense to U.S. lawmakers. Despite these efforts, Opposition Leader Obby Khan criticized Madan’s performance, labeling him as a “CBC buddy” of Kinew running an ineffective trade office from home in Washington.
Khan expressed astonishment at Madan’s $387,000 salary, which accounts for a substantial portion of the $800,000 annual budget allocated to the Washington trade office. Comparatively, he highlighted the salary of Prime Minister Mark Carney at $406,000 annually. Khan argued that Madan’s lack of tangible trade accomplishments and high salary are unjustifiable, particularly when many Manitobans are facing financial hardships.
In response to criticisms, the premier’s office defended Madan’s salary, citing that it aligns with what other provinces pay their trade representatives and lobbyists. For instance, Ontario compensates David Paterson, a former executive with prominent companies, $364,000 annually for similar duties. Additionally, Ontario has allocated $600,000 for Washington lobbying services through Capitol Counsel, LLC this year.
Khan recommended that Manitoba follow Ontario’s approach by hiring a more experienced trade representative or lobbying firm. Despite attempts to reach Madan for comment, he remained unavailable as of Wednesday evening. Madan’s professional background includes extensive experience in journalism, working for CBC, CityTV, and CTV across various Canadian and U.S. locations before assuming his current role.
The disclosure of Madan’s salary came after CBC News pursued the information for three months. A freedom-of-information request was submitted to obtain details on Madan’s compensation and the Washington office’s annual budget, including travel expenses, with the deadline for release set for August 21 under Manitoba’s freedom of information laws. However, as of October 15, the requested records had not been made public.