Advocates for SK to MB road in it for the long haul

One trucking company he talked to said it costs them 81 cents a bushel because of having to travel farther south.

“When you add things up it’s quite drastic and if we can double the amount of grain going through the Port of Churchill, even to one million more tons, which adds up to well more than several million dollars and would definitely pay for that road.”

He said the road would allow truck drivers to haul at least 65,500 kilograms of product from Nipawin to Churchill so it can move on to places like Europe or Africa.

Just last month the Gateway Keewatin Corridor Inc. hosted a meeting in Nipawin for stakeholders in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba and people from industry, local municipalities and First Nations.

Hudyma said it’s quite an alliance of leadership coming together

He said a part of their goal at the meeting was to elevate their lobby work to all levels of government: locally, provincially and federally.

He believes this issue should be of national interest, “One of the things we’re looking at is to be able to provide some additional evidence of the economic deficit that we’re being faced with now with this road not being completed.”

Back in 1952 the chamber of Commerce in Nipawin and The Pas, MB came together with some local loggers and farmers to help push that road between the two.

And now they want to complete the road, with Hudyma saying the long process relates to a road that “needed to be done yesterday.”

“We’re pushing, we know Canada’s birthday is coming up here and what better way to celebrate the 150th birthday of Canada if we can complete this one little piece of corridor between Nipawin and The Pas, Manitoba.”

“We know there’s an economic deficit, we know there’s opportunities,” Hudyma said of why the group has enlisted the help of Praxis Consulting, a consulting firm out of Regina.

“[Drivers] aren’t going to use a road if it’s not safe so we need to provide good economic background.”

Praxis will help do a social and economic study to take to ministers on all levels of government in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, along with the government of Canada, once it’s complete.

“We’ve had good dialogue with the ministers in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Back in April of last year the Manitoba minister actually came to Nipawin to meet with local RMs, municipalities and First Nations,” Hudyma said.

“So [ministers] are definitely interested, we just need to help them provide that little extra evidence that’s there to build their cases.”

He said he hopes that’s where Praxis’s researchers will be able to help and take them to the next level.

With the completion of the corridor there will be benefits for Prince Albert, Carrot River, and other areas, according to Hudyma.

He said it’s not only traffic leaving Saskatchewan but it’s traffic coming into the province from Manitoba so an improved highway will mean improved safety and local trade and commerce will see a boost.

The group is looking towards the government, both federal and provincial, to help fund the repairs and well as looking at the new Canada Building Fund.

“This is a project we see as national interest, there’s definitely regional benefits. Because of linkages to the Port of Churchill and all the way to northern Alberta, this roadway is very important for mining, forestry, agriculture and tourism.”

The group will be gathering again in June to follow up on the last meeting which will be held June 4 in Nipawin at 10 a.m.

The meeting will be open to the public along with stakeholders.

“The more support the better. There’s been some improvements and we’ve made some progress. In some of our discussions a year and a half ago there was really no interest, appetite or business case to go past the Shoal Lake turnoff and now we’re seeing the bridge that’s been put in this winter on the north side.”

He said if everyone works together they can make this work.

Stakeholders Target Outcomes:

(Saskatchewan-Highway 55)

Upgrade Prince Albert to Nipawin (63,500 kg B-Train Highway Weight – 12 months)
Upgrade Nipawin to The Pas (63,500 kg B-Train Highway Weight – 12 months Dust Free)
Nipawin to Carrot River (2015 Rebuilding moved from a low priority to high priority)
Forest Boundary to Shoal Lake Cree Nation (2015 season highway completed including bridges)
Shoal Lake to Highway 55/9 junction (road bed to be raised and widen including bridges by 2017)
Saskatchewan Highway 9 to the Manitoba border (2017 completed)

In relation to highway 55, the following highway and rail line are of importance

Highway 35 (off Highway 55 White Fox to Tobin Lake North side upgraded for agriculture, forestry, local and tourist 12-month traffic)
Highway 255 (off Highway 55 Nipawin to Tobin Lake South side upgraded for agriculture, freight, local and tourist 12- month traffic)
Highway 123 (off Highway Carrot River to Cumberland House upgraded for agriculture, forestry, mining, freight, energy, local and tourist 12-month traffic)
Highway 9 (Off junction 55 to Hudson Bay upgraded for forestry, agriculture, mining and tourist traffic)
Crooked River to Hudson Bay CN line to re-open operation or convert to short line to increase transportation options in the region for agriculture export through Churchill

(Manitoba Highway 283)

Saskatchewan Border to The Pas (Upgrade 63,500 kg B-Train Highway Weight – 12 months)
Construct at The Pas (Double wide primary weight bridge with a new entrance into the community)

swallace@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahthesquid

by Sarah Wallace

Advocates for SK to MB road in it for the long haul

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