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Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Arctic Gateway Group establish Northern trade Corridor

Jul 23, 2025 | 9:01 AM

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, and Arctic Gateway Group (AGG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday to strengthen trade through the Port of Churchill.

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

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

The agreement seeks to strengthen supply chains, bolster regional economies, reduce costs and emissions, enhance market access, and foster sustainable growth.

Kinew said Churchill presents huge opportunities when it comes to mining, agriculture and energy.

“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,” he said.

Part of this MOU includes connecting producers, processors, industries, and exporters in Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the Arctic Trade Corridor. It also prioritizes efforts to secure federal infrastructure funding and regulatory support which will help streamline trade and ensure efficiency in getting Saskatchewan and Manitoba goods to market.

Kinew said he would like to have Ottawa as a partner on the Arctic trade corridor, but the project could go ahead without federal financial support.

He said the megaproject has advantages over others being pitched elsewhere in the country, including an existing port, Indigenous participation through the owner of the port and railway, and consultations on possible expansions

Arctic Gateway Group CEO Chris Avery said Manitoba and Saskatchewan understand the strategic value of the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway, especially as Canada looks to diversify trade and become an energy superpower.

“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,” he said. “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.”

alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com