Promoting province on Parliament Hill

Churchill, CentrePort and Manitoba roads were on display in Ottawa on Tuesday as part of the province’s political push on Parliament Hill.

Premier Wab Kinew and Prime Minister Mark Carney met to discuss expanding the Port of Churchill. It’s the second of what’s expected to be quarterly meetings; the politicians aim to speed up the project’s regulatory process.

“As the war in Iran drives up energy costs and destabilizes global supply chains, the importance of Churchill cannot be overstated,” Kinew said in a news release.

He’s touted the northern Manitoba port as the country’s next major trade hub and a gateway to partners such as Europe.

Ottawa’s Major Projects Office continues to scrutinize the plan.

Attracting business investment to Churchill for an energy feasibility study, increasing critical mineral shipments and making a timeline to get icebreakers were topics of conversation, a news release said.

Kinew raised other subjects with Carney, including federal funding for a new Victoria General Hospital emergency room, the new CancerCare Manitoba headquarters (both in Winnipeg) and twinning the Trans-Canada Highway to the Ontario border.

He discussed support for farmers and the flood-threatened communities of Peguis and Fisher River while meeting with Carney and federal ministers, the release said.

Five Manitoba business groups joined Kinew on the whirlwind two-day trip.

“It’s a very exciting and opportune moment in our country’s history,” said Chris Lorenc, Manitoba Heavy Construction Association president.

He had 18 meetings with federal ministers and policy makers lined up Tuesday and today. The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Manitoba and CentrePort Canada also booked back-to-back meetings together.

They were slated to meet federal transport, immigration and northern economic development ministers.

“We’re saying to the federal government, ‘We understand what your priorities are as it relates to growing the economy,’” Lorenc said. “Here’s what we think we can do to help.”

The delegation sought to show how Manitoba’s businesses and infrastructure tie to the port.

Carly Edmundson arrived with facts about CentrePort Canada. At least 1,000 businesses have set up in the inland trimodal port, which spans the size of Manhattan. It covers parts of Winnipeg — including the airport — and the Rural Municipality of Rosser.

“CentrePort Canada is what Canada needs right now,” Edmundson said via phone from Ottawa.

She had a number of “asks” related to CentrePort’s expansion. She declined to share details, citing confidentiality.

In January, Edmundson signed a memorandum of understanding with the Port of Churchill’s owner, Winnipeg Airports Authority and the Manitoba government in a commitment to work collaboratively.

CentrePort could be a major part of the network shipping goods through Churchill.

National projects already slated for fast-tracking shouldn’t take away from the northern port’s possibility, Edmundson said: “Talking about how to connect our national assets is actually the focus of a lot of conversation.”

Arctic Gateway Group, the port’s owner, signed trade-focused MOUs with Nunavut entities and the Saskatchewan government last year.

Manitoba’s business delegation is pitching further investment in the province’s road, rail and air network to bolster the province as a trade hub.

“The visit is about more than funding,” Edmundson added. “It’s about being ready to play a role in multiple initiatives that help our country.”

The group is highlighting Manitoba’s aerospace and biosciences industries, eyeing the country’s national defence industrial strategy. The strategy, the first of its kind, promises $180 billion in procurement and $290 billion in capital investments by 2035.

Aerospace manufacturers including StandardAero and Magellan Aerospace have Manitoba operations.

“Ottawa needs to hear that not just once, but on a regular basis,” said Loren Remillard, president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.

He and peers are also pushing for changes to the number of labour stream immigrants Manitoba can accept. Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino has joined some meetings; she’s in Ottawa on a separate trip.

“Declining immigration impacts every single business,” Remillard said. “(We’re trying) to find ways that we can work together to still respect what the federal government’s direction is, but being able to do so in a way that allows Manitoba to achieve its economic objectives.”

The business delegation was to attend a reception with Kinew and bureaucrats Tuesday.

“When all the business organizations go (to Ottawa) together, it shows strength,” said Bram Strain, Business Council of Manitoba president. “(It) puts us in a position that people know, we’re here to do business, we’re open to do business.”

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com