Latest news with #HudsonBay
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Manitoba, Saskatchewan invest in Churchill port as trade war drags on
The Port of Churchill, nestled along the shores of Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba, has become an important piece of the puzzle as the Canada-U.S. trade war rages on. Expanding operations in Churchill has taken on new urgency and has been part of the national discussion over the last few months. 'We're building trade-enabling infrastructure for the future,' said Chris Avery, president and CEO of Arctic Gateway Group, which owns and operates the Port of Churchill. The port is currently Canada's only Arctic seaport serviced by rail, offering access to Europe and destinations around the world. 'Building this trade-enabling infrastructure will further enable the vast resources we have in Western Canada (to reach) global markets,' said Avery. The Port of Churchill has a brief operating window each summer —about four and a half months — due to ice in Hudson Bay. However, Avery says a University of Manitoba study shows the port could remain open longer due to climate change. 'Given their study and given the data they've collected for the past 40 years, the sea lanes can probably be open right now, without icebreaker, up to six months of the year,' he said. 'Beyond that - icebreakers can help us lengthen the shipping season to almost year-round.' Last week, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe signed an agreement with Arctic Gateway Group to upgrade infrastructure and modernize supply chains. Saskatchewan will connect producers and exporters to the Arctic trade corridor, and Arctic Gateway Group will be expanding investment in port and rail assets. Churchill Port Port of Churchill workers support arrival of Arctic Supply Ship. (Arctic Gateway Group) Kinew said the deal between the two Prairie provinces is a positive step. 'It's really exciting for Manitoba,' he said. 'It helps us to unlock mining in the North, and more agricultural exports in the South.' In recent years, the federal and provincial governments have invested millions of dollars in both the rail line and the Port in Churchill to build up a proper trade route through the Arctic. In March, Ottawa and the Manitoba government committed nearly $80 million to finish work on the Hudson Bay Railway and continue redevelopment of the Port of Churchill. Premier Kinew at the time said the project would help with long-term economic security. 'The memorandum of understanding is a good reinforcement of what we have been thinking for some time,' said Barry Prentice, a professor of supply chain management at the University of Manitoba. The Port of Churchill has mainly been used for grain shipments in the past but began shipping critical minerals in 2024. Prentice says there is a lot of economic opportunity, not just for Manitoba, but also for Saskatchewan and Alberta to move products through the Hudson Bay. 'You want to move bulk products, especially those that are somewhat storable, and potash fits in that category, minerals, petrochemicals, and lumber too, because they do produce forest products as well,' he said. 'There are lots of things we can move through the port, in addition to grain.' Avery echoed Prentice's statement. 'We expect to have more products that originate from Saskatchewan, come through the Port of Churchill and be exported to global markets as well,' he said. 'So, we'll see that volume grow as we work together and build that traffic, and we'll see the volumes grow, and we'll see different types of commodities go through the port.' All the talk about breathing new life into the Artic comes as welcome news for those living in the North. Port of Churchill Arctic Supply Ship is seen here at Port of Churchill on July 14, 2025. (Arctic Gateway Group) 'It goes to show how much potential our area on Hudson Bay has for shipping, for contributing to Canada's GDP as a whole,' said Joe Stover, a longtime Churchill resident. 'It's good for the country, because it's obviously another outlet for being able to ship — and helps with some of these bottlenecks that you see logistically across the country.' Stover worked at the port for 10 years. While he's happy to see investment and renewed interest in revitalizing the port, he hopes words turn into action. 'Let's just hope that the pressure stays on and things actually get done,' he said. 'We hear lots, in the past — 'Oh, Churchill, it would be great if we could do this. Churchill, Churchill, Churchill. Potential, potential, potential.' Let's just really hope that now this is a dollars-to-donuts, boots-on-the-ground, actual work going to get done.' As for Avery, he said results will start to show in the short term — but the real focus is on building the future. 'We are definitely focused on the medium and long term as well,' he said. 'And building this trade-enabling structure — which will then build more trade and opportunities to export our resources and commodities to global markets.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists make alarming discovery after attaching GoPro cameras to polar bears in the Arctic — here's what's happening
Scientists make alarming discovery after attaching GoPro cameras to polar bears in the Arctic — here's what's happening The large amounts of melting sea ice due to rising global temperatures are impacting polar bears' ability to hunt for seals, forcing them to adapt to new ways of finding food. However, these alternative food options are much less nutritious and scarce, resulting in cases of alarming weight loss, Glass Almanac reported. What's happening? A group of Canadian scientists attached GoPro cameras to GPS collars on 20 polar bears in the Hudson Bay area in northeastern Canada. The scientists studied the footage and observed how polar bears are adapting to rapidly melting sea ice. Over three years, the scientists observed how polar bears are collectively losing an alarming amount of weight. Of the 20 bears studied, 19 lost an average of 46 pounds over three weeks, according to Glass Almanac. The loss of sea ice directly affects the bears' ability to hunt for seals, an important food source that provides the bears with high-fat food for energy and warmth, allowing the bears to weather the cold, hunt for more food, and survive. The footage shows the polar bears increasingly turning to food on land as hunting for seals becomes more difficult. On average, polar bears "now spend up to three weeks more on land each year compared to the early 1980s, when the ice was more stable and reliable for hunting," per the Glass Almanac. However, food on land — bird carcasses, berries, and other marine animals — does not provide the bears with enough nutrition to continue hunting and survive, leading to alarming rates of weight loss. Why is melting sea ice concerning? Rising global temperatures are melting sea ice rapidly, which contributes to rising sea levels. This can endanger coastal cities, putting them at risk of flooding or storm surges, and threatening the destruction of coastal infrastructure. Increased global temperatures are also causing more water to evaporate, making extreme weather conditions, like heavy rains, winds, and storms, more frequent and intense. New Mexico, a traditionally dry climate, has been experiencing heavy rainfall and flooding — as many states have recently. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What's being done about rising sea levels? Slowing the rate of global temperature increase can help keep sea levels at a safer level, mitigating the incidence and risk of extreme weather events. It also prevents sea ice from disappearing, allowing polar bears to continue hunting for food as they've done for generations. On an individual level, you can effect change by educating yourself, family, and friends about critical climate issues and voting for climate-conscious leaders that put the health of the community and the planet at the forefront of their legislative efforts. In a similar vein, find local organizations doing good and important work, and volunteer your time, money, or effort to support your community and the larger planet's climate resiliency. Each effort toward a healthier, more sustainable planet helps preserve the health and natural beauty of the world, ensuring future generations may get to live and experience the planet as we once did. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
CTV News
23-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Former northern Ont. paper mill selected as hub for construction of $1.8B health care facility in the Far North
Abitibi Connex in Iroquois Falls will be the logistics hub for the construction of a major health facility on the coast of Hudson Bay. (File) Abitibi Connex in Iroquois Falls will be the logistics hub for the construction of a major health facility on the coast of Hudson Bay. Pomerleau, one of Canada's largest construction firms, has selected Abitibi Connex to support the $1.8 billion Weeneebayko Area Health Authority redevelopment project in Moosonee and Moose Factory. Art rendering WAHA hospital An art rendering of the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority's future state-of-the-art healthcare facility in Moosonee, Ont. (Supplied/Infrastructure Ontario) 'The project includes a new hospital in Moosonee featuring 36 private inpatient beds, a 32-bed long-term Elder Care Lodge, a 24-hour emergency department, modern surgical suites and more,' said a news release this week. The hub will be used to 'co-ordinate material delivery for constructing a new regional health-care campus that will serve patients and clients living along Ontario's James Bay and Hudson Bay coasts.' The project includes an ambulatory care centre in Moose Factory that will provide 'culturally appropriate care for everyone living in the western James Bay and Hudson Bay coastal regions of Ontario,' the release said. Upgraded rail line 'This July, Pomerleau and Pinnacle Logistics Solutions Ltd. launched material transfers to Abitibi Connex, coordinating construction supplies through the former paper mill site that BMI Group and Dutch investment group Business-EQ have redeveloped.' Ontario Northland Rail is upgrading 11.5 kilometres of rail spur to create a direct connection from Iroquois Falls to the Cochrane junction, where materials will be moved north to Moosonee. The operation will handle approximately 3,000 rail cars through Abitibi Connex over three years and create an estimated 120 jobs during peak construction. WAHA campus entrance An art rendering of the entrance of Weeneebayko Area Health Authority's future state-of-the-art healthcare facility in Moosonee, Ont. (Supplied/Infrastructure Ontario) The new health facility aims to address a critical service gap in northern Ontario, where residents often travel hundreds of kilometers for specialized care. 'Once complete, these modern facilities will provide emergency, acute and specialty health care in spaces that culturally reflect local traditions and healing practices,' the release said. Construction is expected to be complete in 2030. Weeneebayko General Hospital Originally built in 1950 to sequester tuberculosis patients, the now-called Weeneebayko General Hospital is in such a state of disrepair that local health officials call it one of the worst hospitals in the country. (File) 'This partnership demonstrates the complex logistics coordination needed for major northern development, and the success partnerships like this bring to them,' Frank Devries, GM of Pinnacle Logistics Solutions, said in the news release. 'Abitibi Connex demonstrates how existing infrastructure can be re-tooled to catalyze major regional projects,' John Veldman, BMI Group's chief operating officer, said in the release. The Abitibi Connex site is being developed in collaboration with the Town of Iroquois Falls and J.L. Richards & Associates, which led the planning process for the former mill and surrounding lands. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new launch of Abitibi Connex will take place July 25 at 1:30 p.m.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trade potential seen in Manitoba's Churchill as Trump tariffs inspire new economic era
How the world does business has been in a bit of transition because of U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariffs. Now, Canada is rethinking shipping and trade – a renewed focus is the port of Churchill in northern Manitoba on the shores of Hudson Bay. Melissa Ridgen reports on what could become a new era of global trade for Canada.
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Science
- CTV News
Belugas spotlighted on Arctic Sea Ice Day
Arctic Sea Ice Day this year is focused on Beluga whales, launching a live cam in Hudson Bay for people to watch them swim.
