Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, centre, talks with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe as they arrive at the meeting of Canada’s premiers at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont., on Monday, July 21, 2025. (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)

By Susan McNeil

Port of Churchill

Prince Albert Chamber welcomes provincial agreement on Port of Churchill expansion

Jul 22, 2025 | 12:57 PM

The biggest regional beneficiaries of an expansion at the Port of Churchill would be agricultural producers, estimates Patty Hughes, CEO of the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce.

Hughes welcomed the news of an agreement between Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Arctic Gateway Group, which owns and operates the port.

“I would say more from the provincial aspect, that’s positive. Saskatchewan is a landlocked province and being able to open up that access to ports for us is just positive for every industry in our province,” Hughes said.

The MOU on the port comes on the heels of a bigger deal between the two provinces that was announced yesterday, which includes a framework to increase direct to consumer alcohol sales and a focus on the mutual recognition of credentials to help labour and trade move between provinces.

Saskatchewan has signed similar deals with Ontario and PEI as part of a larger response to economic change driven by United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

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Tariffs are a concern for all businesses, including those in Prince Albert. Part of the Canadian response has been to focus on improving markets internally while expanding to countries other than the United States.

“When you take a look at the opportunity there to be able to access markets in a very efficient manner for our province, that is very positive,” Hughes said.

“We have the resources; we just need to be able to get them to market and opening up these interprovincial trade barriers is very positive for us.”

In 2021, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, trade equalled more than $6 billion.

Premier Scott Moe said in a news release that the MOU will help build supply chains, bolster regional economies, reduce costs and emissions, enhance market access and build growth.

“Saskatchewan remains committed to strengthening trade across Canada by supporting and developing new transportation corridors,” Moe said.

“Streamlining access to ports, such as Churchill will allow our goods better access to new and emerging international markets. Today’s MOU between Saskatchewan and Manitoba is another way we are building on that progress and creating new opportunities for our industries.”

Leaders in Nipawin and Shoal Lake, both of which border Highway 55, the highway that runs west and east through Saskatchewan, connects with Highway 9 and goes to the port, have spoken about improved road access and how expanding the port will impact their communities.

READ MORE: Northeast leaders look to be part of bigger business growth

The port currently ships grain and recently expanded its capability to store critical minerals for shipment out.

“Churchill presents huge opportunities when it comes to mining, agriculture and energy,” Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said. “Through this agreement with AGG and Saskatchewan, we are going to unlock new opportunities for businesses in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to get their goods to market.”

The deal includes connecting industries and exporters to what is being called the Arctic Trade Corridor.

They will be looking for federal funding and regulatory support as well.

AGG CEO Chris Avery said that the MOU shows that both provinces can see the strategic value of the Port of Churchill and the Hudson Bay Railway.

“This joint commitment from Premiers Kinew and Moe is a clear signal that Canada’s Arctic Trade Corridor will play a major role in this country’s trade and transportation future. As an established, efficient link to world markets, with economic reconciliation built into everything we do, the Port of Churchill is actively shipping, open for business, and ready to deliver for prairie producers and Canadian exports – while returning the benefits to AGG’s Indigenous and northern ownership communities.”

Hughes also pointed out that ports and transportation corridors work both ways and that Churchill might be more attractive to import some products as well.

“When you take a look at it, instead of shipping it to other ports, product might be coming in that way as well so we might be able to see some better access for some other products that we may need,” she said.

One area that likely won’t see much benefit at the moment is the forestry sector.

Some of the trade talk between Canada and the US has included the potential for caps on how much lumber can be exported to the US and that doesn’t bode well for the closed mill north of Prince Albert or the planned OSB mill.

“Until that deal is hammered out and what it may look like, we’re not going to see a big change in regards to our forestry industry, which is unfortunate because we have all of that amazing resource that’s right there and it would be great if we could be utilizing it,” Hughes said.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social