Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson went from lukewarm to welcoming on Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s proposal to export more energy through Churchill..It’s an idea full of upside and lacking downsides..On October 24, Smith wrote the premiers of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to propose a meeting in Churchill to discuss export possibilities for food, energy, fertilizer and other goods. Despite nothing but upside for Manitoba, Stefanson was reticent..“I will tell you there are more pressing things for us to be dealing with right now,” Stefanson said on Halloween. Maybe later, she added. For now, affordability and health care and homelessness are on her mind..“Obviously, we want to ensure First Nations communities would benefit from anything that is even considered, and that they’re consulted appropriately,” Stefanson said..“I think we can be part of the solution, but let’s have that discussion with the federal government and across the country as well.”.It defies logic why a premier would use the need for discussion as the reason to not have a meeting. Besides, a vibrant line to Churchill could help her apparent priorities..Former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall always had more sense than that. At the 2014 Manning Conference, he said that a good economy was the necessary foundation of all social programs because without money to fund them, they could not happen..That’s not where the irony ends. Just 11 days before Smith’s letter, Stefanson launched a tour with Economic Development, Investment and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen to Churchill, Thompson and Flin Flon. An October 13 press release said the goal was “to promote jobs, tourism and economic opportunities.”.“Manitoba is open for business and our government’s Look North strategy is committed to … facilitate economic growth and build a prosperous future for all Manitobans,” said Stefanson in the release, as she promised to “take action.”.Guess what else was in the release?.“Earlier this summer, our government announced our contribution of more than $73 million for the Arctic Gateway Group (AGG) to support significant upgrades to the Hudson Bay Railway, a vital transportation network in northern Manitoba,” said Cullen in the same document..“Building up our northern economy is essential to our province’s success … and AGG will create jobs and provide opportunities for tourism, international trade and future economic growth of the region.”.AGG is a partnership between 41 First Nation and Bayline Communities. Ottawa was contributing the other half of the $147.6 million to AGG, and an additional $60 million in related funding..Why, after Ottawa and Winnipeg had committed to Hudson Bay investment and when First Nations so clearly stood to benefit, was Stefanson so skittish about Churchill?.Pierre Poilievre had better instincts. On April 2, he said if he became Conservative prime minister he would consult with First Nations and fast-track export and shipping permits to send 100,000 barrels of oil a day from the Port of Churchill. This would allow oil to reach Europe and eastern Canadian refineries. A pipeline from Alberta to Churchill could carry another 200,000 barrels of oil daily..In both cases, the oil could be exported as CanaPux, a new technology that encases the product in a polymer that prevents leaking. If a train or boat with such cargo capsized, the pucks could be scooped up with the product intact and no environmental damage..Better late than never, Stefanson came around..After the Manitoba throne speech Tuesday, Stefanson told reporters she had been in discussion with her prairie counterparts about using Churchill..“We are looking at liquefied natural gas, primarily,” Stefanson said..“We know with the energy challenges in Europe, with the horrible situation there, the shortage of food potentially, that Manitoba is well-positioned with the Port of Churchill to be able to look at what that could mean in the long term for our province,” Stefanson said..The NDP opposition, led by Wab Kinew, countered that Manitoba should develop hydrogen to ship through Churchill. Their acceptance of hydrogen exports is also great news..On November 8, Ottawa and the Alberta government announced $476 million for a $1.6 billion blue hydrogen facility, expected to be the largest net zero hydrogen plant in the world. Essentially, the blue hydrogen would be derived from natural gas with the carbon removed and sequestered. It's less volatile and cheaper to ship if it is then converted to anhydrous ammonia for shipping..University of Manitoba supply-chain professor Barry Prentice says a single train of the product from Alberta each week would be enough to make the Hudson Bay Railway viable. Canada already made an agreement to ship hydrogen to Germany for its energy needs, so all that’s left is a container crane to be installed at the Port of Churchill..The first charters for a rail line from Winnipeg to Hudson Bay were granted in 1880. Now in the 21st Century, this nation-building exercise seems poised to have its finest days. Let’s hope the gatekeepers don’t screw it up.
