Canada’s Public Policy Forum honoured Paul Moist, national president of CUPE, with the Peter Lougheed Award for his contributions to public policy. Moist received the award, along with several other distinguished Manitobans, at an October 8 ceremony at the Canadian Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg.
“My life’s work has been in the trade union movement, which has a rich history in this community and our country,” said Moist in accepting the award. “The single most significant contribution of the labour movement has been the ability to negotiate economic and other rights at work, and enhanced wages in the community, all which combine to reduce inequality.”
Other recipients included; Gary Doer, Canada’s Ambassador to the United States and former Premier of Manitoba; Justice Murray Sinclair, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Gail Asper, president of the Asper Foundation; and Lloyd Axworthy, past president of the University of Winnipeg.
“I admire greatly each of my fellow recipients tonight. I know them all personally, and more importantly I know them through their public service,” said Moist, who was introduced by former NDP MP Judy Wasylcia-Leis at the ceremony. “We are all much better off as a result of their service and I salute each of them with our thanks, for their contributions to the public good.”
This was the first time the Public Policy Forum recognized leaders from Manitoba for their contributions to public policy that have resonated across Canada and the world with this award, named in honour of former Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed.
Canada’s Public Policy Forum is an independent, non-governmental organization dedicated to improving the quality of government in Canada through dialogue among leaders from all sectors of Canadian society.