Western Canada was largely opened because of the value of a rodent..From the 1600’s on, it was the trading of beaver pelts for European goods that helped raised everyone’s standard of living. Two historic figures, Samuel Hearne and Matonabee, (who first met each other by accident west of Hudson Bay) epitomized this new era..'Sam' came with the Hudson Bay Company to make profit for the investors, and 'Mat,' a chief of the Dene people, led young Sam across the west to introduce trade with his colleagues in the Athabaskan country. Mat became well known for his “portable trading posts” which he brought across the west..These were two free men intent on exercising their rights. Though not without warts and bruises, they exercised their moral authority based on the demand for the dam-building, bark-eating beaver..The mutual benefit was recognized: Nobody argued the fact that boiling water for stew was easier using a copper pot over a fire, than dropping hot stones into a caribou stomach. Mat and Sam not only became trading buddies, but their partnership led to a lifelong, loyal friendship..Trade back then consisted of canoes, York boats and sometime winter travel over land. The beaver-equivalent today is potash, bitumen, oil, LNG, agricultural products, hydroelectricity and hydrogen. And today, as then, the Port of Churchill is set up to handle the business; agricultural products, container bitumen, potash, and the rest.. Port NelsonPort Nelson .Meanwhile, Jeff Callaway’s premise of using a new Port Nelson did not fall on deaf ears. This idea has been a widely-shared dream, here in Manitoba. Based upon my experience as a captain operating in Hudson Bay for the past 42 years, the plan to operate a new Port Nelson is deeply appealing. It could facilitate liquified natural gas shipments and crude oil 12 months out of the year..There is the cost advantage of compressing natural gas there when -40 temperatures have already reduced its volume, and the efficiency of using hydro-generated electricity at off-peak hours when power is plentiful and cheaper..A mismanaged Manitoba Hydro, left in multi-billion-dollar debt by the previous Manitoba NDP government, could work with the other western provinces and indigenous leaders to create an east/west hydro grid, connect all four western provinces, increase Manitoba’s market share of hydro-generated power and create efficiencies in that system that couldn’t be had otherwise except by spanning several peak-usage time zones..Along the same corridor, while hydro energy flows upstream via DC line, hydrocarbons (Western Canadian Select crude oil) move down to the Hudson Bay. The energy which was once provided by the Russian Federation from their north coast should be replaced by Canadian energy and delivered in the most efficient manner..On Aug. 25, Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) gas closed at $US94.20 per MMBtu. For the first three weeks of August US Henry Hub gas averaged $8.67, Dutch TTF $62.54, and Alberta AECO $2.16. Alberta gas fetched 25% of the US price and 3% of the Dutch benchmark..The movement of western resources out of western Hudson Bay — which is as close as Montreal to Europe — but without the need of a cross-Canada pipeline, is not only the most ethical way to move western energy and resource exports but also the best investment that northern Manitobans could ever make in helping to develop this infrastructure..When I think about an energy corridor exporting out of western Canada, I think about royalties moving into the coffers of northern communities..I think of maintenance contracts for our young people to thrive..I think of a health-care industry providing the best to northerners..I think of seniors' homes for our elders..I think of a Manitoba Hydro with no debt and with expanded opportunities for a better deal for our northern people..I think of a Manitoba government building better northern airports, and able to build a mass transit system for Winnipegers..I think of access to western Canadian natural gas..Hundreds of years ago, we all got together to trade along the waterways. Today, I applaud those promoting the NeeStaNan energy corridor. Same idea and benefits for all..Capt. Wally Daudrich is a Churchill resident is a Churchill businessman and the candidate of record for the Conservative Party of Canada.
