Possible Port of Churchill expansion floated in discussions with premier, EU ambassadors

During a meeting with EU Ambassadors, Premier Wab Kinew said he is open to the idea of a second Hudson Bay port.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is hopeful international trade with European partners will become more feasible with advancements in infrastructure around Hudson Bay.

“We had a great meeting with the EU ambassadors; they’re eager to do business with Manitoba,” Kinew said.

“They know all about the Port of Churchill. They know all about our clean, low-carbon Manitoba hydroelectricity, and they know a lot about what’s happening in Canada, including in some of the other provinces.”

Kinew held an introductory meeting this morning with European Union Ambassador Geneviève Tuts and 18 high commissioners that represent 18 European Union member countries at the Legislative Building.

The premier said the meeting was an important opportunity to showcase what the province has to offer and strengthen trade ties with Europe. With an uncertain future in trade with our southern neighbours, the meeting was a chance to break new ground.

“Given what’s happening with the U.S. right now, I think that relationship for the economy is going to make sense for decades to come,” Kinew said.

“What we did this morning is we said to 450 million people in the EU market that Manitoba is open for business. We have the low-carbon energy that they want because of their commitment to climate-friendly policy, and we have a northern port that can reach Rotterdam and ports in Belgium and other places more quickly than other North American ports.”

The premier said the possibility of opening a second port on Hudson Bay could help with the seasonal demand placed on the existing port of Churchill based on icy conditions in winter.

“Many of the member countries around the table said they want to import energy products in the summer to prepare for their winter, and we have a shipping season in Churchill that’s open during the summer months,” Kinew said.

“As a government, I don’t think we’re going to be prescriptive at the outset and say it’s got to be energy, because we have other opportunities. We can move critical minerals, which there’s a lot of interest (in) with the EU ambassadors. We can move agricultural products. There’s other things we can use a port of Churchill for, and whether it’s the port of Churchill or another Hudson Bay port on the horizon, I do want Manitobans to start to think about what the right balance here is for us.”

Kinew said the notion of a second port on Hudson Bay is merely in the idea phase of discussion with trade partners, and future developments will take time to establish.