The Manitoba government is injecting $36.4 million into the Port of Churchill over the next two years, Premier Wab Kinew and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor announced today. The investment aims to expand international trade, create jobs in northern Manitoba, and solidify the province’s position as a key player in the global market.
Premier Kinew emphasized the vast potential of Churchill for mining, agriculture, and energy sectors. “Our government’s investments are fueling northern Manitoba’s economy, increasing international trade and unlocking new economic opportunities for all Manitobans,” he stated. He added that the funding will strengthen Manitoba’s economy and open new trading avenues.
The $36.4 million will support the Arctic Gateway Group’s (AGG) port and rail development plans, focusing on traffic diversification and growth. The funding will also help attract private investment from the agriculture, mining, fertilizer, and resupply sectors. Planned improvements include wharf repairs and freight warehouse upgrades.
Sport Minister Terry Duguid, also responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, highlighted the investment’s importance in connecting northern communities, strengthening Indigenous economic leadership, and positioning Manitoba in the critical minerals market. “Reliable affordable rail service is essential for the North,” he said, stressing the investment’s role in ensuring this lifeline for communities and businesses. Duguid also noted the creation of new opportunities in mining and mineral development, helping Indigenous communities build skills, secure jobs, and drive economic growth.
Minister Naylor emphasized Manitoba’s strategic location as a maritime province in the heart of North America, ideally suited for shipping commodities, critical minerals, and natural resources. “Developing the Port of Churchill will advance northern Manitoba’s economy, support trade expansion with Europe and strengthen our Arctic sovereignty as we position Manitoba as a gateway to the Arctic and to the world,” she explained.
Chris Avery, CEO of the Arctic Gateway Group, expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership with the Province of Manitoba and Hudbay Minerals. He announced that the upcoming shipping season will see a doubling of critical minerals shipped internationally from the Port of Churchill. “As a locally owned and operated Canadian organization, backed by 41 Indigenous and Bayline communities, Arctic Gateway Group will continue to step up and support working people, creating regional opportunities and diversifying the supply chain networks of this province and country,” Avery stated.
The AGG, a subsidiary of OneNorth, a partnership of 41 First Nation and Bayline communities, exemplifies economic reconciliation in action, according to the ministers. The successful 10,000-tonne zinc concentrate export shipment piloted by AGG and Hudbay Minerals in August 2024 has already established Churchill as a key northern trade route for critical minerals.
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