If you're Treasury Board President Reg Alcock and you need a savvy political advisor to watch over your affairs back in Manitoba, who you gonna call?

Veteran city councillor and former MLA John Angus, it appears.

Alcock, Manitoba's senior government MP, confirmed he has asked Angus, a longtime Liberal party supporter, to act as an emissary and advisor in the minister's regional office.

In other words, Angus will function as the minister's eyes and ears in Manitoba.

Although it may appear unusual for an elected municipal councillor to devote time to advising the senior level of government, Angus said he views his new dual duties as a potential win-win relationship.

"Reg has asked me to advise him on certain files," said Angus. "One is the city file, and the other is the floodway (expansion).

"The rational is that we have been friends and collegues for more than 20 years, and I certainly know the players and the issues. If I can be of some help on these issues, both sides win."

Alcock said there are many times when important issues in Manitoba are left unattended while the House of Commons is in sesion. "Before you can get fully apprised, these issues because become major issues instead of minor ones," he said.

Angus has been a loyal advisor for many years and it only made sense to bring him in an official role, Alcock added. "John's been very good at finding solutions for me."

Angus said he will devote 15 hours a week, or less, to his work for Alcock to stay within city guidelines for moonlighting councillors. And for the immediate future, Angus said he will not be paid for this work.

Angus's dual role has raised some eyebrows at city hall, since Angus will essentially be working for two governments simultaneously. But city councillors said Angus is not in a conflict of interest.

"It's a sort of a bizzare situation," said Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt. "But a lot of councillors hold party memberships and meet and advise senior politicians on lots of issues. That's the reality that already exists. This is just more formalized."

Coun. Donald Benham agreed, saying he trusts the veteran city councillor to juggle the city's interests with those of his new political master.

Angus may have even been able to avoid the recent debacle surrounding federal infrastructure funding for community clubs, which Alcock said recently wasn't a sure thing despite assurances by Mayor Sam Katz that the money was available.

"Clearly, the mayor needs help in communicating his message to the federal government," said Benham.

Having already indicated he will not run for re-election in the October 2006 municipal elections Angus said he will make a decision in the near future about whether to resign his council seat and make the move to the minister's regional office full-time.

Greg Burch, the mayor's spokesman, said he is confident Angus can juggle his dual roles and will know the appropriate time to step down as councillor.

Angus said he has received written opinions by the city clerk and by the federal ethics commisioner the he is in no conflict of interest.

City Clerk Richard Kachur confirmed that Angus is not violating city ethics rules, but he must adhere to the councillors' code of conduct, which would likely prohibit him from voting on federal-city deals he had a hand in negotiating.

The federal Liberal government maintains a minister's regional office in each province to co-ordinate all regional political issues for the highest-ranking government MP.

In Winnipeg, the minister's regional office takes the lead on all negotiations for tri-level funding initiatives, and oversees the work of various federal government departments in Manitoba while the minister toils in Ottawa.

Angus said he will represent Alcock at a variety of meetings on local and provincial matters, and advise on the best course of action for the federal government on all files.

Angus said he can withdraw from any council vote if there is a feeling he was too deeply involved in the negotiations.

"I think it's important to note here that I don't get to make any decisions," Angus said. "I'm a messenger and I have the ear of the minister. I think it's an advantage to have somebody locally who can talk directly with the minister on important issues."