The Port of Churchill is shown from The Flats area of Churchill, Man., in July, 2018. Prime Minister Mark Carney suggested this week that an upgraded port facility in Churchill could be one of the first major projects his government will support.JOHN WOODS/The Canadian Press
A group of Indigenous leaders has begun initial discussions on a proposal to create an economic corridor from Churchill, Man., to the Pacific Coast.
There is a lot of interest from specific First Nations around the port-to-port project, which proposes the development of an economic corridor between Prince Rupert, B.C., and Churchill, on Hudson Bay, said Mark Podlasly, who is chief executive of the First Nations Major Project Coalition.
The Prince Rupert/Churchill project would ultimately also tie into the proposed Grays Bay Road and Port project in the Northwest Territories and western Nunavut, he said in a recent interview.
The leaders’ group, which represents almost 20 communities, is in early talks about an Indigenous-led economic corridor between the three ports, according to Darrell Beaulieu, one of the people involved in the discussions. He is the chief executive of Denendeh Investments Inc., which is owned by the Dene First Nations in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Beaulieu characterized the talks as being in a very early stage, with the leaders only sharing information and discussing the potential of a northern corridor.
Discussions about such a corridor have gained momentum in light of the economic threats from U.S. President Donald Trump and recent infrastructure development discussions in Canada.
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The possible economic impact is immense, Mr. Beaulieu said, and could “generate a hell of a lot of jobs and revenue streams.”
Dawn Madahbee Leach, general manager of the Waubetek Business Development Corporation, has also been involved in the discussions. Her organization provides financing and economic-development services to First Nation businesses in Northeastern Ontario.
“There are a lot of communities that still need to get involved, but we’re just trying to start with the core and then getting each one to say who else needs to be around the table,” she said.
So far, the discussions have been about creating a transportation corridor, but they could also evolve to include energy projects such as hydro or liquefied natural gas, Ms. Madahbee Leach said, as well as broadband. Studies would be needed to determine the best options, she added.
Two meetings have already been held, and a third one will likely happen in September, she said.
They have not yet held discussions with federal, provincial or territorial governments, she added.
Prime Minister Mark Carney suggested this week that an upgraded port facility in Churchill, Man., could be one of the first major projects his government will support. He said on Tuesday that infrastructure announcements will be made within two weeks, and it is possible that expansions at the Port of Montreal and in Churchill, Man., will be among the first to be announced.
Part of Bill C-5, which was passed in June, allows the federal cabinet to designate projects as being in the national interest if they meet certain criteria. That designation exempts them from various laws in order to speed up approvals and construction.
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Mr. Carney’s government has repeatedly said that Indigenous peoples who could be negatively affected by projects would be fully consulted at key stages in the process. The Prime Minister has also said Indigenous economic growth is at the centre of the legislation.
Indigenous groups have had mixed reactions to the law. Some have said they are worried it could violate treaty rights, while others are cautiously optimistic about the potential for economic opportunity.
Mr. Podlasly said that his coalition’s 180 members are very interested in participating in major projects, but so far, the process from Ottawa has been theoretical. The legislation has passed, he said, but potential projects have not yet been put forward, nor has a promised Indigenous Advisory Council been established.
Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson said Wednesday that the government’s major projects office will launch this week. That office will also include an Indigenous advisory council.
The First Nations Major Projects Coalition is an Indigenous-led, non-profit that provides its members with knowledge and advice to make informed business decisions about involvement in natural resource and infrastructure projects. It ensures that First Nations’ interests are incorporated in projects, including economic, environmental and cultural aspects, Mr. Podlasly said.
Mr. Beaulieu said the task at hand for Ottawa is to identify ready-to-launch projects and determining which ones can be Indigenous-led. The projects must be strategic in increasing Canada’s prosperity and security, as well as acting as a catalyst for other developments, he said.
“If the federal government is going to support something like Churchill, maybe it’s what they see as most appropriate or most strategic and most capable of delivering the benefits,” he said.
The Port of Churchill has been owned and operated by the Arctic Gateway Group since 2018. That company is owned by 29 First Nations as well as local governments in Manitoba and Nunavut. Arctic Gateway Group also owns the Hudson Bay Railway, which extends to Churchill from The Pas, Man.
With a report from The Canadian Press