By Alice McFarlane

Feds provide money for the Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill

Mar 21, 2025 | 2:00 PM

Trade infrastructure and transportation corridors make it possible for Canada to get its products to global markets.

To support that the federal government will be providing funding to open new potential markets through the Arctic and secure reliable surface transportation through northern Manitoba.

Roughly $175 million over five years will support operations and maintenance of the Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) and pre-development activities at the Port of Churchill, owned by Arctic Gateway Group (AGG).

In total, $125 million will go towards operations and maintenance of HBR over five years through Transport Canada’s Remote Passenger Rail Program. The funding is to be offset by $43.8 million previously announced in the Fall Economic Statement 2024 and $50 million for the pre-development activities at the Port of Churchill over five years will be administered by Prairies Economic Development Canada.

Funding for HBR sends a message to the private sector that it can count on HBR and the Port of Churchill for business. Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland said now, more than ever, it’s important to make critical investments in Canadian infrastructure to bolster economic development in Canada’s Northern regions.

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“The HBR and Port of Churchill are important transportation corridors that serve the needs of Indigenous and Northern communities, and this new funding will connect more Canadians and grow our economy,” Freeland said in a news release.

AGG is a partnership of 29 First Nations and 12 isolated communities served by HBR in Northern Manitoba. HBR has been called a critical piece to Indigenous reconciliation, connecting communities, and economic development, including the development of critical minerals and tourism, in northern Manitoba. Both the HBR and the Port of Churchill play an important role in ensuring supplies reach northern Manitoba and Nunavut.

The HBR is the only surface transportation option that is available year-round between several remote and Indigenous communities in Northern Manitoba from The Pas to Churchill. It also links the Port of Churchill, Canada’s only deep-water Arctic port, to the North American transportation network.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @farmnewsNOW