The Portage la Prairie Chamber of Commerce is gearing up to host a members-only event next Tuesday with Premier Brian Pallister.

It's at the Portage and District Arts Centre gallery, and Executive Director Cindy McDonald says the premier will be joined by four cabinet ministers, Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Bergen, ten MLAs, as well as Mayor Irvine Ferris and Reeve Kam Blight. It'll be from 5 to 7 pm, and she feels it's an important event for members to meet the premier.

"He hasn't been out to Portage since he was elected, and it's pretty exciting to have someone locally that is running our province. We thought it was important to give our members the chance to speak with him, or one of the other dignitaries that are coming, to meet them, to talk to them, to bring their concerns to them, what ever the case may be."

McDonald acknowledges the Chamber wouldn't mind seeing this as an annual occurrence, where members connect with the government officials from higher levels, but understands the difficulty.

"Getting the premier out is not the easiest thing to do. I've been working on this for four months, so we were just lucky that they're all in Brandon that day, for a caucus meeting, and happened to be coming back through."

She notes the event's focus won't be on issues, but thinks some will come up.

"I think definitely the flooding issues will come up, infrastructure issues will come up. I'm not 100% sure what else, but those are the two big ones, for sure."

McDonald won't be in the Chamber office today, but notes if members want tickets, e-mail info@portagechamber.com, or leave a phone message at 204-857-7778. 

The cabinet ministers joining the premier are Portage MLA Ian Wishart, Midland MLA Blaine Pedersen,  Agassiz MLA Eileen Clarke, and St. Paul MLA Ron Schuler.