Federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff is in Winnipeg for the Manitoba Liberal Convention.
Ignatieff is scheduled to address the provincial party at the annual general meeting.
On Friday he spoke at a joint luncheon of the Winnipeg and Manitoba chambers of commerce.
Ignatieff was quick to jump on priorities of specific interest to Manitoba.
"We need to build a 21st century, an east-west power corridor that moves Manitoba power to more Canadian markets," said Ignatieff.
The newly minted Liberal leader said he is fully behind an east-west power grid, which he feels would help the country achieve its environmental objectives.
Ignatieff described Manitoba and western Canada, as the beating heart of the 21st century Canadian economy.
"It is no accident Manitoba is running a surplus, Saskatchewan is running a surplus. This is telling you some thing about where the economic gravity of our country is shifting. It's shifting away from central Canada to western Canada," said Ignatieff to Manitoba business leaders.
This is Ignatieff's first visit to the city as party leader.
He was chosen as party leader in December, and has traveled to Saskatchewan and Alberta in recent weeks in a bid to rebuild the party in western Canada.
Later Friday afternoon he met with students and Ukrainian community leaders at R.F. Morrison Elementary School.
Later Friday evening he will deliver a speech at the Liberal Party of Canada (Manitoba's) convention at Canad Inns, Polo Park.
