New Partnership Aims to Cut Costs for Saskatchewan Grain Producers with Shorter, More Direct Route for Export & Import Markets
2024年9月28日 - 1:31AM
To cut costs for grain and agricultural producers and create new
opportunities in Saskatchewan and Western Canada, Invest Tisdale
has forged a new partnership with the Arctic Gateway Group that
focuses on restoring and promoting two-way rail traffic between
Churchill, Manitoba, and Tisdale, Saskatchewan.
“We have been advocating for direct rail service
to Churchill since 1995 and for the restoration of grain service
since 2015,” said Reeve Ian Allan of the Rural Municipality of
Tisdale. “The Arctic Port terminal is essential and is ours to
lose. We need to take action now, building business-to-business
relationships with the ownership group at Arctic Gateway and their
vision to see Canada’s Arctic Trade Corridor finally thrive.”
“The Port of Churchill can offer Saskatchewan
grain farmers and other businesses major cost savings with a
shorter and more direct route to world export markets, as well as
for imports of key products such as fertilizers,” said Chris Avery,
CEO of the Arctic Gateway Group. “By reconnecting Tisdale to the
Hudson Bay Railway, we can help grow the economy in Saskatchewan
and offer greater supply chain optionality to lessen the impact of
strikes and other forms of trade disruption that we’ve seen this
year.”
The new memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed
by Invest Tisdale and AGG focuses on a range of economic
development projects that leverage the Tisdale Rail Subdivision for
import and export activities between Tisdale, Saskatchewan, and
Churchill, Manitoba, including:
-
Restoration of Two-Way Rail Traffic: Over the
next five years, both parties will work collaboratively to
ultimately restore two-way rail traffic between Churchill,
Manitoba, and Tisdale, Saskatchewan. This includes working with the
existing owner of the rail line to assess the cost involved with
revitalizing the Tisdale Rail Subdivision.
- Stronger
Business Relationships: The MOU emphasizes building
strong business-to-business relationships to ensure the success of
the initiative, including strategies to attract new businesses and
capital to the region as well as increasing communication between
AGG and local businesses.
A recent economic report by Praxis, a
Saskatchewan-based management consulting and research firm,
highlighted the significant economic benefits of re-opening the
rail line from Tisdale to Hudson Bay. The report indicates this
could generate $69.6 million in annual gross economic activity and
create 195 new jobs.
Invest Tisdale fully supports the Arctic Gateway
Group’s call for enhanced infrastructure “optionality” in Canada,
as has been recently reported on. The opportunity with the Port of
Churchill is particularly significant. Like other regional service
centers in Western Canada, Tisdale needs more shipping options to
connect to various ports. As productivity continues to increase,
these additional options are essential for maintaining
competitiveness and reducing bottlenecks. For Tisdale, this means
establishing connections to ports in all directions, including
inland distribution hubs such as CentrePort in Winnipeg and
Saskatoon.
“We must not let distraction and complacency
hinder our efforts to grow our rural economy in a sustainable
manner,” said Tisdale Mayor Al Jellicoe, who is also a Chartered
Accountant. “It has never been more important that we are focused
and proactive in fostering a sustainable rural economy, which
requires reliable, cost-effective export options. This work is
crucial as we support small businesses, develop industry, create
jobs and attract new capital to Saskatchewan.”
Recent work undertaken by AGG is proving the
Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway are once again a viable
and efficient way to increase import and export trade with global
markets. The successful export of critical minerals from the Port
of Churchill in August marks a key milestone in AGG's vision for an
efficient, reliable, and prosperous Arctic Trade Corridor. This
achievement demonstrates AGG's commitment to revitalizing the
Hudson Bay Railway and diversifying the Port of Churchill. With the
support of the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba,
AGG has replaced hundreds of thousands of rail ties along the
Hudson Bay Railway, rebuilt multiple bridges, improved the
reliability of operations, and cut rail travel times by 2.5 hours.
These investments have been instrumental in securing important
contracts and ensuring the stability and reliability of freight and
passenger services.
For More Information:
Invest Tisdale
Chris Hudyma, Economic Development Officer
Cell: (306) 276-8244
Email: hudchris6@gmail.com
Arctic Gateway Group
Tom Garrett
204.806.3670
tom@chadwickconsulting.ca