Port of Churchill needs Trudeau government takeover, MP says

Churchill's member of Parliament says it's time for the federal government to take back the Port of Churchill, after dozens of workers were laid off without any notice and as the privately owned Arctic seaport prepares to close.

Churchill-KeewatinookAskiMP NikiAshton said the shipping port is a key part of the northern Manitoba economy and her constituents deserve better treatment than they've received from OmniTrax.

"Right now unfortunately we're not seeing a lot of federal leadership or any federal leadership, and that has to change," Ashton said. "We need to take control of the situation, and we need to recognize that OmniTrax's conduct is reprehensible."

• Port of Churchill layoffs 'came out of nowhere,' says town's mayor
• Port of Churchill layoffs could devastate northern Manitoba economy, ministers say

The layoffs surprised workers when they were announced on Monday afternoon. OmniTrax has not commented publicly on the situation.

The Denver-based company is Churchill's largest employer and bought the port and Hudson Bay rail line from the Chrtiengovernment in 1997. Despite millions in government grants and subsidies over the years, OmniTraxput the port and rail line up for sale in January, citing operation losses and a need for more federal assistance.

"If we're seen as a social service to the north,which I think we are to some degree,then Ithinkgovernmentsneed to be prepared to support that," OmniTraxpresidentMerv Tweed told CBC News in January. "Ihope that they see the value of the port and the value of the services provided to the other communities that we service. We service a lot of First Nations communities, and we are their only source of transportation to a centre."

A collective of northern Manitoba First Nations offered to purchase the rail line and portshortly after the company listed itsprivate holdings for sale, but where that offer stands isunclear.

What is clear, Ashton said, isthe federal government needs to acknowledge that privatization of the port has failed.

"It's time for the federal government to realize that the experiment no longer works, and it's time for us to take Churchill backand recognize that it is such an important part of our economy," Ashton said.

The closure of the port could have economic impacts outside Manitoba's borders, said Ashton, whoisencouraging Canadians to sign a petition in support of government intervention.

The petition will be online Thursday, Ashton said.

• ANALYSIS |What the closure of an Arctic seaport in Manitoba could mean for Canadian sovereignty
• Port of Churchill once looked forward to 'great fleets of the future'