Work is underway to repair the rail link to Churchill.

The Hudson Bay Railway Line, as well as the Port of Churchill and the Churchill Marine Tank Farm, is being bought by the Arctic Gateway Group – a blend of Fairfax Financial Holdings, AGT Food and Ingredients, and Missinippi Rail Limited, which is a consortium of 30 First Nations, 11 other Manitoba communities, and 7 Kivalliq communities in western Nunavut.

A press conference was held at The Forks in Winnipeg this morning. The federal government is contributing $117-million to the Arctic Gateway Group through the Western Diversification Program. A release from the federal government says the rail line is “expected to grow into a key transportation and export hub”, with the Group bringing forward “a viable business plan with a view to expand Canada’s reach to international markets.”

AGT president and CEO Murad Al-Katib couldn’t give a concrete timeline for when repairs will be complete.

“Sixty to 70 days was kind of our budget. But that again depends on what we find at washouts and what the weather looks like,” said Al-Katib.

Fairfax president Paul Rivett said they hope to have the rail line fixed by winter.

The Hudson Bay Railway Line is the only land link to Churchill, and has been broken since spring 2017 when it was washed out by flooding.

Churchill mayor Mike Spence said today his community has shown incredible resilience in dealing with the challenges to this point, and he says they got through it with support from people across Manitoba, Canada, and the world.

“I had people sending food hampers… high school students sending cards and school supplies, a student out of Stonewall, Skylar Ferguson, she stepped to the plate and she made a difference. Thank you so much. Families organizing Christmas hampers,” said Spence.

The incoming owners plan to make the Port of Churchill a free port. Al-Katib said the port will have goods outgoing and incoming, and there is opportunity for a multi-commodity strategy.

“The build-up back to the old days (will be) on a diversified book of business. Grain is not the saviour of this port; grain is one commodity in this port,” said Al-Katib.

According to the Canadian government, crews are working to repair the rail line seven days a week. It says, during the repairs, supports for food, fuel, and economic support will remain in place.