Economic development help for hard-hit northern Manitoba towns
CHURCHILL, Man. — A federal promise of $4.6 million for economic development projects in northern Manitoba was received Friday as a welcome, but temporary, measure to help a regional economy that has been served a double whammy.
Navdeep Bains, federal minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification, was in Churchill to announce an economic development fund to jump-start projects that will create jobs in tourism, Arctic research and other areas.
The aid follows a decision by Denver-based Omnitrax not to open the seasonal Port of Churchill this year, due to low demand, and to scale back freight service on the Hudson Bay Railway line — the only land-link to Churchill and nearby communities.
“It’s encouraging that there’s actually something solid and concrete now. It’s been close to two months and we’ve heard nothing from the Liberal government,” said Marianne Hladun, regional vice-president with the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which represents workers at the port.