Port of Churchill Plus

Sector

Transport

Location

Manitoba

Sector

Transport

Location

Manitoba

Description

Building upon the leadership of the Arctic Gateway Group, this joint project with the Government of Manitoba proposes to upgrade the Port of Churchill and expand trade corridors with an all-weather road, an upgraded rail line, a new energy corridor, and marine ice-breaking capacity.

The transformative strategy would prioritize Indigenous equity ownership, through current Indigenous shareholders and a new Manitoba Crown-Indigenous Corporation, and develop the projects needed to turn the Port of Churchill into a major four-season and dual-use gateway to the region.

The Major Projects Office (MPO) will work with prospective proponents to bring certainty to the regulatory processes that will attract private and public sources of capital investment and more strongly link Churchill to the rest of Canada.

Description

Building upon the leadership of the Arctic Gateway Group, this joint project with the Government of Manitoba proposes to upgrade the Port of Churchill and expand trade corridors with an all-weather road, an upgraded rail line, a new energy corridor, and marine ice-breaking capacity.

The transformative strategy would prioritize Indigenous equity ownership, through current Indigenous shareholders and a new Manitoba Crown-Indigenous Corporation, and develop the projects needed to turn the Port of Churchill into a major four-season and dual-use gateway to the region.

The Major Projects Office (MPO) will work with prospective proponents to bring certainty to the regulatory processes that will attract private and public sources of capital investment and more strongly link Churchill to the rest of Canada.

Quick facts

Unique Arctic port: The Port of Churchill is Canada’s only deepwater Arctic port connected to the North American Class 1 rail network via the Hudson Bay Railway.
Tidewater advantage: It is the only tidewater access on the Prairies and provides the shortest route from the prairie provinces to European markets.
Indigenous-led: The Arctic Gateway Group is an Indigenous-led business owned by a partnership of 41 First Nations and northern community shareholders that owns the Port of Churchill, Hudson Bay Railway and the Churchill Marine Tank Farm.

Benefits

Expanded export and import capacity in the North through Hudson Bay would contribute to increased and diversified trade with Europe and other potential trade partners.
The project would contribute to expanded economic opportunities in the northern prairies, enhance northern resupply to Arctic communities, and advance economic reconciliation with Indigenous groups.
An expanded port and trade corridor would contribute to Canada’s northern presence and Arctic sovereignty.

Latest updates

On February 19, 2026, the Government of Canada announced the launch of a market sounding study to gather industry input on the long-term growth potential of the Port of Churchill Plus project. In particular, the study will explore how extended or year-round shipping supported by icebreaking, a modernized Class 1 railway, an all-season road connection, as well as a potential energy corridor could influence future import and export strategies, supply chain decisions, and private sector investment.
On September 11, 2025, the transformative strategy was referred to the MPO.
There is also an ongoing study by the Arctic Research Foundation, which will explore the deployment of specialized icebreakers, ice tugs, and research vessels to support year-round operations at the Port of Churchill.
The MPO is engaging with Indigenous communities and organizations and working with the Government of Manitoba and proponents to further develop the Port of Churchill Plus transformative strategy into competitive projects.