A Canadian icebreaker and research ship sits at the Port of Churchill in Manitoba in 2018. A new shipping route through Northern Manitoba to the port could open up valuable trade routes to global markets.JOHN WOODS/The Canadian Press
Dr. B. Mario Pinto is a vice-president (research and international) at the University of Manitoba.
Donald Trump’s insistent focus on tariffs and trade rebalancing represents a serious challenge for Canada.
In responding to calls for action, individual Canadians have been boycotting American goods and travel and rallying around the “Buy Canadian” mantra. Nationally, easing or removing inter-provincial trade barriers, diversifying our trading partners, and initiating large-scale, national infrastructure projects to ensure our resources and products can flow readily across Canada (and reach global markets) has been in the spotlight.
The House of Commons recently passed Bill C-5, or the Building Canada Act. In his speech announcing the legislation’s passage through the House, Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted his vision for advancing nation-building projects in order to strengthen Canada’s economy.
However, it will be challenging to rally and sustain public backing and the support of all provincial and territorial governments. For example, there is no clear consensus on expanding existing energy pipelines or building new ones to transport energy products to tidal water. In B.C., Premier David Eby is focused on maximizing the TransMountain pipeline before considering additional infrastructure between Alberta and Prince Rupert, B.C. Quebec Premier François Legault has committed only to studying any proposed projects going through his province.
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In addition, Mr. Carney has framed this nation-building strategy in the context of economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. He has characterized his government’s vision of building trust and shared leadership with Indigenous communities across the country as the “first step” to implementing the Building Canada Act. Mr. Carney has also spoken at length about the critical need to ensure that Indigenous communities participate fully in the national economy, with rights holders, leaders and experts outlining their ambitions and concerns. The Prime Minister will meet with First Nations leaders on Thursday.
A new alternative to the West-East infrastructure issue, which builds on economic reconciliation, is worth serious consideration: a new shipping route through Northern Manitoba to the Port of Churchill, one of just two functioning deepwater Arctic ports in Canada (the other is in Iqaluit). Ongoing climate change is likely to make shipping feasible for at least some, if not most, of the year, opening new and valuable trade routes to global markets including key European partners. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has signaled his government’s openness to exploring a pipeline to transport energy and other exports through the Churchill port. While any such project would require careful environmental and community consultation, this political will reflects a growing recognition that Northern infrastructure is essential to nation building and national resilience. Given today’s geopolitical competition in the region, this route is also highly relevant in enhancing Canadian Arctic security.
In Manitoba, building trust and shared leadership among governments, Indigenous communities, academia, industry and business is already well established, with full Indigenous participation. Deep and sustained partnerships with Northern and Arctic communities, built over decades, are rooted in mutual respect, capacity-building and common goals. The Arctic Gateway Group (AGG), an Indigenous-owned Manitoba company, owns and operates the Port of Churchill and the Hudson Bay Railway, from The Pas, Man., to Churchill.
Researchers at the University of Manitoba, together with the AGG, are examining contiguous corridors, with low-ice risk, for “open-water” vessels to transport energy products and critical minerals through the Hudson Strait, with icebreakers navigating the Northwest Passage and higher Arctic region. The communities of Churchill, Chesterfield Inlet in Nunavut, and Rankin Inlet in Nunavut, have also been working with researchers on other integrated solutions, including advanced remote-sensing satellite and drone communications. Sea water and sea ice environmental experimentation is ongoing through the Churchill Marine Observatory research centre. Finally, research at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, working closely with NORAD, helps shape defence policies tailored to the region’s unique needs.
Although serious challenges remain before this Northern shipping route becomes a reality, established commitments by the federal and Manitoba governments, the town of Churchill, local industries, First Nations and Inuit communities and University of Manitoba researchers make this alternative idea of a new shipping route to the Port of Churchill increasingly compelling.