‘Moment is now’ for Arctic trade corridor Federal budget plan to upgrade Port of Churchill, Hudson Bay Railway opens new economic future: AGG CEO By: Aaron Epp Posted: 5:20 PM CST Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 Last Modified: 5:20 PM CST Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 Updates

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The leader of Arctic Gateway Group appealed to Manitoba’s business community on Wednesday, saying with private-sector help, the northern trade corridor through the Port of Churchill can become a key part of a prosperous Canada.

Chris Avery, president and CEO of the Indigenous-owned company that owns and operates the Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill, made the pitch toward the end of a 30-minute speech at a Manitoba Chambers of Commerce event at the Delta Hotel in Winnipeg.

“Churchill and the Arctic Gateway Group are primed — and the moment is now,” Avery said. “We have the right ownership model, the right partnerships, strong government support and the right vision to make Canada’s Arctic trade corridor a cornerstone of Canada’s future prosperity.”

He encouraged Manitoba businesses to advocate for and partner with AGG, as he referenced the federal government’s plan to upgrade the port.

“Port of Churchill Plus represents a singular opportunity to diversify Canada’s trade, strengthen our global energy leadership, assert sovereignty in the Arctic and advance Indigenous economic reconciliation,” Avery said. “Together, we can establish Churchill as Canada’s next national port and truly transform Manitoba into a maritime province.”

“We can establish Churchill as Canada’s next national port and truly transform Manitoba into a maritime province.”

Avery made the speech the day after the federal government reconfirmed $180 million over the next five years to continue strengthening the Hudson Bay Railway and diversifying operations at the Port of Churchill. The Port of Churchill Plus project is highlighted in Budget 2025 as a nation-building initiative.

During his speech, Avery explored what the Plus project means and why it matters. Year-round shipping is at the heart of the project, he said, adding it would transform AGG operations and Canada’s entire Arctic trade corridor.

“It means resilience in Canada’s supply chains, new export options for our producers and year-round access for northern communities,” Avery said.

A Class 1 upgrade to the Hudson Bay Railway is the second pillar of the project. This designation would mean higher standards, more capacity and greater confidence from industry, Avery said.

Next, Port of Churchill Plus looks at establishing a new energy corridor. That could lead to thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investments, according to Avery. An all-season road and port terminal upgrades are also part of the initiative, Avery noted.

AGG is in discussions with the Department of Defence, Canadian Armed Forces and coast guard to understand their requirements and what “multi-purpose investments” can be made in Churchill to advance both defence and trade ambitions, he added.

Avery underscored conservation and tourism will always remain at the heart of Churchill’s identity. Economic growth and environmental stewardship can happen at the same time, he said.

“When we do this right, the Port of Churchill Plus will emerge as a bold, nation-building project that helps to define a new economic future, not just for Manitoba, but for Canada as a whole,” Avery said. “It unites the North and the south, east and west, industry and communities, Indigenous and non-Indigenous leadership, all working together.”

During a panel discussion following Avery’s speech, chambers president Chuck Davidson asked CentrePort Canada CEO Carly Edmundson what the private and public sector can do to make sure they’re aligned when it comes to the Port of Churchill Plus project.

“Manitoba’s job is to be excited, be positive and have a ‘this is going to happen’ attitude,” Edmundson said.

“We have to be our own best champions,” she added. “I can tell you as a transportation industry, we are 1,000 per cent behind AGG and what they’re trying to do, and it’s going to make such a difference for that community.”

The chambers organized the event so business leaders in southern Manitoba could have an opportunity to better understand the Port of Churchill Plus project and its potential significance, Davidson said. More than 300 people attended.

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“I think that there’s an understanding this is a big potential project for Manitoba and I think that the more we can be aligned, the more successful it can be,” he said.

The federal and provincial governments have spent millions of dollars on the Port of Churchill’s restoration, with Ottawa investing at least $277 million over the past six years on the port and railway.

The northern hub is Canada’s only deepwater arctic port connected to a North American surface transportation network.

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca

Aaron Epp
Reporter

Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.

Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.