Artist slams Manitoba government's 'completely tone deaf' donation request for 'buy local' gift bags

A Winnipeg artist said she's disappointed by the Manitoba government's request for a local small business owner to donate their products for an upcoming "buy local" themed event.

In a July 7 email obtained by CBC News, a representative from Manitoba Finance asked a local maker to consider donating some of their products to be included in gift bags for a "buy local"-themed event.

CBC News is not identifying the maker because they fear retribution in their professional career.

About 30 government representatives from all of Canada's provinces and territories are expected to attend the event, which is a government taxation conference the province plans to host in September, the email said.

"Should you choose to donate, we will happily share any additional advertisements with our guests, who in turn will take them back to their provinces and territories," the email reads.

The representative's request was made on behalf of the event's host chair, Paul Olafson, who is also an assistant deputy minister for the province's Finance Department.

Olafson, in a July 8 email to the business owner who voiced concerns about the request, said he wanted to offer the gift bags as a way to showcase Manitoba "as a terrific and unique experience," and to give local business owners "the opportunity to display their great products."

Attendance fees pay for the costs to host the meeting, Olafson said.

"Unfortunately, the event budget does not include products we're including in our 'welcome to Manitoba' kits."

Meg Greenlay, a ceramic artist in Winnipeg, says the province's initial request and Olafson's response were shared among a group chat of local artists, including her, who found it "disappointing."

While being asked for freebies isn't new for small businesses, Greenlay said it's "completely tone deaf" for the province to do so in the current economic climate.

Heightened trade tensions between Canada and the United States prompted a "buy local" movement across the country earlier this year.

But Greenlay says the province is "weaponizing" that tagline, and that the government needs to find a better way to connect with and promote local businesses.

"I don't think that this is the time to be putting together goodie bags for government representatives," she told CBC News on Friday.

"Trying to disguise it under the guise of 'buy local' — but at the same time being told that no one will be financially compensated for their time or materials, or for the product themselves — seems almost unbelievable."

No obligation to contribute: province

The province did not make Olafson available for an interview.

A statement from the province, which wasn't attributed to any individual, said there was "never any obligation" for the businesses contacted to participate in the donations.

"The province has received multiple positive responses from businesses and entrepreneurs that appreciated the opportunity to showcase their work to a potentially new market," the statement emailed Friday said.

But Greenlay thinks the province should apologize to the businesses that received the request.

"This is profiting off the backs of hard-working businesses and creatives, and using it to make themselves look good and generous during a conference," she said.

"No one's being properly compensated or represented in something like a swag bag, and no one ever has been."