Premier Wab Kinew visited Churchill, Manitoba, on February 3, 2026, and the following day (Feb. 4) met with northern First Nations and Métis leaders in Thompson to discuss a plan that aims to turn the community into a major shipping hub for the North. The meetings focused on expanding the local economy by increasing activity at the port and railway, which would help create more stable jobs for people living in the region. The province is working closely with Indigenous leaders to ensure the town can handle more trade, specifically for minerals and energy products.
The project involves the Arctic Gateway Group and the OneNorth partnership, which represents 41 First Nation and Bayline communities. By working together, the province and local leaders want to move the Port of Churchill away from being a seasonal grain terminal and into a year-round gateway for international trade. This move is intended to provide long-term economic security for a region that has faced challenges with rail service and isolation in the past.
To support this growth, the Manitoba government announced the Manitoba Crown–Indigenous Corporation (MCIC) in December 2025 to give First Nations a direct say in how northern projects are run; legislation to formally establish MCIC was expected in March 2026. This corporation will co-ordinate large infrastructure improvements and help manage the growth of the port and the railway line, ensuring Indigenous leadership is central to decision-making about the region’s future.
The expansion is backed by about $262.5 million in combined federal and provincial funding, including $175 million from the federal government and roughly $87.5 million from Manitoba. These funds have already helped with major rail repairs and are being used to prepare the port for more business. Leaders say these investments are a major step toward making Churchill a key player in how goods are moved across Canada and around the world.
