Our government is pleased to see an agreement reached for a Canadian consortium of northern Manitoba First Nations and communities, Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings and Regina-based AGT Food and Ingredients to take control of the Hudson Bay Rail Line and Port of Churchill. The deal was announced last week and, depending in part on Mother Nature, there are hopes to have train service to Churchill up and running before the coming winter freeze-up.
While the northern rail line to Churchill has been shut down, our Manitoba government has supplied the town with propane to make it through the winter months at an estimated cost of $6 million. We also expanded our government’s northern food program AFFIRM to Churchill to work simultaneously with the federal Nutrition North program, so we could ensure that residents of Churchill receive necessary supplies. Given the short window remaining in this construction season and the unpredictability of weather, we have initiated another sea lift to supply Churchill with enough propane to last another winter, in case the repairs take longer than expected.
Locally, it was my pleasure to attend the weigh-ins and award ceremony for the second annual Kickerfish Northern Manitoba Walleye Championship at Paint Lake Lodge last weekend. There were 49 boats entered – with two sport fishers allowed to keep a maximum of six live-release walleye per boat – and competing for over $30,000 in cash and prizes, and of course bragging rights. Congratulations to first-place winners Wayne Skwarchuk and Russell Boxell of Thompson, second-place finishers Jason Cross and Valerie Hildebrand of Carman, and third-place finishers Barry and Kathy Ruiter of Paint Lake Lodge. Of the 98 fishers who competed, 26 were from out of town – some from as far away as Kenora, Ont., and Red Deer, Alta. Many thanks to former Thompsonite Dino D’andreamatteo of Winnipeg for bringing this tournament to the north again this year and for promoting sport fishing, Paint Lake Provincial Park and Northern Manitoba tourism.
