Prime Minister Wab Kinew raised the idea of creating a second port in Hudson Bay on Tuesday when Manitoba organized a delegation of European Union diplomats that seek to forge stronger links with the province.
The European Union Ambassador Gineviève Tuts and 18 Mission Chiefs of the European Member States met with Kinew in the Legislative Building.
“We are looking for narrower relationships … Given what is happening with the United States at this time,” Kinew told journalists after a meeting behind closed doors with the delegation, which arrived on Monday for a two -day visit.
“I think that relationship, for the economy, will make sense during the next decades,” he added, saying that he hopes that an administration of the United States after Trump maintains some protectionist policies.
The meeting was an opportunity to show countries, which represent a market of 450 million people, which Manitoba is open for business, he said.
With the commercial threats made by the president of the United States, Donald Trump, it is necessary to analyze the options for exports, which could include another port away from Churchill, Kinew said.
“The port of Churchill or another port in Hudson Bay is an incredible economic opportunity for us in Manitoba and throughout Canada,” Kinew said.
This is the first time that Kinew indicates any opening to the idea of a second port, which others have raised before.
The prior progressive conservative government in Manitoba presented a financing commitment to study it, but the Kinew government canceled that.
On Tuesday, he said that the idea wouldn’t even be on the table if Trump did not turn world trade.
“Post-trump, any of the ideas of economic development we had in Canada and Manitoba, must be 10 times larger, 100 times, to stimulate jobs,” he said.
The ships can reach the main ports of Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Antwerp in Belgium more quickly from Hudson Bay than many other American ports, Kinew said.
“I think we can really turn this period of turbulence into a period of opportunity,” he said.
“Many of the member countries of the table said they want to import energy products in the summer to prepare for their winter. We have a shipping season in Churchill that is open during the summer months.”
Environmental concerns
However, the existing Churchill port may not be ideal, since the Beluga observation season is the same as the shipping season, which may be the reason to build a second in another part of the bay, Kinew said.
“Balance the consideration between the growth of our economy while accessing Tidewater in Manitoba while protecting our environment (belugas, polar bears) is very important to get it,” Kinew said.
The west bay of Hudson is home to 57,000 Beluga whales, and every summer approximately 4,000 whales are heading to the Churchill river estuary to feed, appear and give birth, according to Travel Manitoba.
“Looking at other port opportunities [away from the estuary] It is possibly the way to solve that act of balance, “Kinew said.
When asked about concerns about possible spills if energy products are sent, Kinew said that Canadians are re -examining what should be done to grow the economy in Trump’s shadow.
While these considerations are weighed, there are other products at the request that Manitoba can send, as critical minerals and agricultural products, he said.
There are no indications of whether any financing can come from the EU or the federal government to help cover the cost of a second port, but there are some favorable signs, Kinew suggested.
The delegation wants to invest in things as critical minerals and clean energy products, while “the main contestants to be the next prime minister have made it clear that they want construction projects of the nation,” he said.
Look | Kinew suggests the second port of Hudson Bay:
Prime Minister Wab Kinew raised the idea of creating a second port in Hudson Bay on Tuesday when Manitoba organized a delegation of European Union diplomats that seek to forge stronger links with the province.
The progressive candidate of conservative leadership Wally Daudrich, who has advocated a new port of Hudson Bay closer to the mouth of the Nelson River, praised Kinew for realizing that Churchill is not an ideal place to increase marine trade.
“I love Churchill. Obviously that’s where I am from,” said Daudrich, owner of a hotel and ecotourism business in the coastal city.
“But as a captain in Hudson’s bay, I have to say that I understand maritime conditions and that they will never allow Churchill to be a 12 -month port, which is what we need.”
The president of Arctic Gateway Group, who runs the Hudson Bay railway and the port of Churchill, said that Kinew has always supported the existing commercial corridor, and offered a stoic response to Prime Minister’s comments on a second port of Hudson Bay.
“When you are building the nation, there are many things that you have to see, right? And, and I think he wants to cover the bases, so to speak,” said Mike Spence, who also serves as mayor of Churchill.
On Monday, Kinew said he wants to redirect some electricity to the north of Manitoba to strengthen the Hudson Bay of the Bay of the Churchill Bay.
Cultural exchange and trade
Tuts, the EU ambassador, said Europe is specifically interested in developing commerce with Manitoba in the biotechnology and clean energy sectors and also wants critical minerals required “for digital transition.” He also stressed the importance of making complete use of the comprehensive economic and commercial agreement (CETA) signed between Canada and Europe in 2016.
“I think Manitoba has all the ingredients to further deepen friendship and association. Europe has some needs, Manitoba too. That is why we have decided to visit its beautiful province,” Tuts said.
Kinew said that the meeting also covered cultural diplomacy, bringing an EU Film Festival to Manitoba and sending exhibitions and artistic performances abroad.
The EU mission chiefs will also meet with the Manitoba Business Council and the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, and will tour the headquarters of the Aerospace Defense Command of North America of Canada (NORAD) and Center Canada, a key center for international trade, said a prudence statement in the province.
The delegation is composed of the ambassadors and high commissioners of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Chipre, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Swedish.
