Manitoba trade network to be strengthened through new partnership

The Ports of Manitoba project, a MOU between the province and Ottawa, will see groups support efforts to expand the trade network in Manitoba.

Three of Manitoba’s top transportation organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at improving the province’s trade network and diversifying trade routes.

On Monday, the federal and provincial governments announced the “Ports of Manitoba Project”—an agreement involving the Winnipeg Airports Authority, CentrePort Canada and the Port of Churchill.

Through this MOU, the three organizations, along with government partners, will work towards creating an integrated supply chain that moves more efficiently across air, land, and sea. The agreement also includes the goals of expanding access to international markets, increasing trade capacity, and leveraging the province’s central location.

“Manitoba’s unique combination of inland rail, air cargo, and Arctic tideway access, strengthened by world-class trucking and logistics, positions this province to anchor a stronger, more resilient Canadian economy,” said Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand.

“This MOU integrates those assets into a single logistics ecosystem. Not three separate networks, but one powerful corridor capable of moving Prairie products to global markets more efficiently and securely.”

With this partnership, the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway will be strategically linked to the Winnipeg airport’s air cargo capabilities and CentrePort Canada’s infrastructure.

The MOU also includes other areas of collaboration, including creating single-window access to services and enhancing foreign trade zone usage.