Study launched to assess long-term potential of Port of Churchill project

The federal government is taking another step toward a potential expansion of the Port of Churchill.

A new study has been launched to assess the long-term potential of the Port of Churchill Plus project, seeking industry input on how major infrastructure upgrades could reshape trade through the Arctic port.

The market-sounding initiative was announced Thursday by the federal government in collaboration with the province and other partners.

The study will examine how extended, or even year-round, shipping enabled by icebreaking services and an upgraded rail line could affect future import and export strategies, private-sector investment and supply chain decisions. It will also assess the potential effects of an all-season road and the development of an energy corridor.

The federal government has committed $248,600 to support the study, which is expected to wrap up by March 31.

“The Port of Churchill is set to play a central role in our government’s vision to build a stronger, more resilient Canadian economy that is better connected to global markets,” said Steven Mackinnon, federal minister of transport, in a news release.

“By ensuring that we are investing strategically, we are creating new opportunities for northern communities and Canadian businesses, supporting Indigenous economic leadership and strengthening our sovereignty.”

Premier Wab Kinew said the study will also engage the private sector to evaluate the scale of opportunity of the Port, located about 1,000 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

“We want to see a base commodity that can power this infrastructure for the next generation. That might be LNG (liquefied natural gas). It might be another product. But I am talking about LNG because I want Manitobans to start thinking about that,” Kinew said during a news conference.

The Port of Churchill Plus project was designated a priority in September 2025 by the federal government’s Major Projects Office. It is the country’s only deepwater Arctic port and provides the shortest route from prairie provinces to European markets.

The project would see upgrades to the Hudson Bay railway, dedicated icebreaking capacity to prolong the shipping season, and construction of a new energy corridor and all-weather road connecting to Churchill.

The study’s findings will inform future decisions in partnership with the federal and provincial governments, as well as Indigenous leaders, the release said.