Backgrounder: Minister Duguid announces federal investments to secure affordable transportation in the North, and strengthen trade opportunities for Canada

Remote Passenger Rail Program (RPRP) - $43 million over two years, funded by Transport Canada

The Remote Passenger Rail Program (RPRP) provides funding to ensure that safe, reliable, viable and sustainable passenger rail services are provided to certain areas of the country where these services are the only means of surface transportation for remote communities.

• Arctic Gateway Group - $43 million over two years to support the annual repairs, maintenance, and operations of the Hudson Bay Railway (HBR).
  • This investment will ensure lasting access to affordable travel, medical services and essential goods from The Pas to Churchill.
    • This is a region with few all-weather roads, where some communities have no road access at all, and the ice-road network is susceptible to climate change.
  • The HBR links Canada’s only deep-water Arctic port that is connected to North America’s surface transportation network, which will play an increasingly significant role in shipping Canadian goods and commodities to destinations around the world.
    • The HBR can carry critical minerals north and south to international markets to be processed around the world. This past August, the Arctic Gateway Group shipped critical minerals bound for Europe.
    • The Railway and Port of Churchill provide a critical connection with Nunavut’s Kivalliq region, which is essential for resupply.
  • While serving the needs of communities at every stop along the line, the HBR also creates economic opportunities and enables prosperity far beyond its tracks.
  • The funding announced today will contribute to local business growth, including job creation and security. Opportunities will expand trade, mining, forestry and tourism. Like Churchill, an internationally recognized tourist destination, many of the First Nations along the rail line have year-round natural attractions and cultural industries that are in high demand.

Strategic Partnership Initiative (SPI) - $877,110, funded by Indigenous Services Canada, administered by Prairies Economic Development Canada

The Strategic Partnerships Initiative (SPI) is a unique federal program administered by Indigenous Services Canada and shared by a growing network of over twenty federal partners. Its innovative whole-of-government approach helps advance Indigenous inclusion in large, complex economic development opportunities that span a range of industry sectors across Canada. SPI provides a way to fill funding gaps that create barriers to Indigenous involvement in economic opportunities. It also promotes partnerships between federal and non-federal groups to leverage additional funding and support for opportunities that are not otherwise eligible for federal funding.

The Manitoba Indigenous Critical Minerals Partnerships Initiative, administered by Prairies Economic Development Canada, was created under the SPI to support Indigenous communities to engage with, respond to, and benefit from mineral development and exploration opportunities based on their community plans and priorities. This initiative was designed in partnership with, and to support Indigenous Peoples and communities according to their self-determined priorities in the sector.

Manitoba is positioned to be a key player in the production of critical minerals, with 30 of the 34 minerals on Canada's 2024 Critical Minerals List located in Manitoba. Of these 30 occurrences, 20 are actively being explored or produced in Manitoba, including all six minerals that Canada recognizes as having the greatest opportunity to fuel domestic supply and manufacturing.

• Marcel Colomb First Nation – $390,000 to support Marcel Colomb First Nation to deliver a Workforce Readiness Program in Manitoba.
• Kiciwapa Cree Nation Association Inc. – $250,610 to support Kiciwapa Cree Nation Association Inc.’s engagement and exploration growth plan.
• Sagkeeng First Nation – $218,500 to strengthen mineral sector workforce development in Sagkeeng First Nation.
• Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation – $18,000 to support the completion of an Impact Benefit Agreement and a framework for economic development and employment opportunities.

Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD) - $1,507,523, funded by Prairies Economic Development Canada

The Community Economic Development and Diversification Program (CEDD) assists economic development initiatives that help communities across the Prairies grow and diversify. Through this program, PrairiesCan enables communities to leverage their capacity and strengths.

• University College of the North - $1,154,129 to expand train-to-hire programing for Indigenous students at the Northern Manitoba Mining Academy.
• Norway House Cree Nation – $353,395 to support Norway House Cree Nation to deliver a training program in Manitoba.

Support through CEDD & SPI invests in Manitobans and Manitoba products, which are then exported through the Arctic trade corridor. This summer, a shipment of critical minerals was sent to Europe.

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• News release: Minister Duguid announces federal investments to secure affordable transportation in the North, and strengthen trade opportunities for Canada