Northern consortium to take over Port of Churchill, rail line, chief says

After weeks of layoffs and business closures in the north, The Pas and Churchill got some good news Monday.

Talk of partnership dominated meetings in The Pas Monday as union officials, mayors, business owners,First Nation leaders and provincial cabinet ministersdiscussed how to avoid a job loss crisis and the looming closure of the localTolko paper mill.

About 300 workerswould bewithout jobs if themill in The Pas closes. The B.C.-based company announced in Augustit plans to shut down operations Dec. 2.

• Tolko closure looms as Manitoba cabinet ministers visit The Pas
• Tolko Industries: Why they're closing The Pas mill and what it means

ChiefArlen Dumasof the Mathias ColombCreeNation said the meeting was historic and probably one of the first times in recent history that everyone with an interest in the mill sat down at the same table to chart a path forward.

"We've challenged our provincial government partners to look at solutions we're bring forward," he said.

While he wouldn't get into specifics,Dumas alsoconfirmed a consortium of business and First Nations willtakeover the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay rail line, whichruns from The Pas to Churchill.

"It will happen, Dumas said, adding the consortiumhasbeen in talks withOmniTraxrecently and the deal is in development

Denver-basedOmniTraxannounced in August it would be closing the Port of Churchill and has already cut rail service down to Churchill in half.

MathiasColomb, one of three First Nations thatown Keewatin Railway Co.,madean offer to buy the port and rail line in January.

Thatmove angered some elders in the communitywho claimed they weren't given enough details about the purchase before Dumas expressed interest on their behalf.

• Tensions soar in Pukatawagan over move to buy rail line

Dumas, who is up for re-election in October,saidno promises were made regarding purchasing the mill in The Pas Monday, but there was an overall openness to work together and find a solution.

"I'm certain something positive will come from what we were able to do here today," he said.

'Ready to move forward'

The Pas Mayor Jim Scott said Monday's meeting showed that everyone is on the same page and wants to doeverything they can to avoid a closure.

Partnering to take over Tolko paper mill dominates talks in The Pas

8 years ago

Duration 2:11

Talk of partnership dominated meetings in The Pas Monday as union officials, mayors, business owners, First Nation leaders and provincial cabinet ministers discussed how to avoid a job loss crisis if the local Tolko paper mill shuts its doors.

"We're all ready to move forward, we believe we can find a solution, we believe we have the people to do it," he said.

Scott said it's possible aconsortium could form to take over the Tolko paper mill and Hudson Bay rail line in The Pas.

"There's lots of talk of tire kickers," he said, adding Tolko has confirmed there have been expressions of interestin taking over the mill. "It's really going to depend on if one of those tire-kickers decides to go for a test drive."

Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullensaid he applauds the community of The Pas for banding together in uncertain times.

Several ideas came up in talks Monday and Cullen said the province is open to working with groups interested in stepping in for the long haul.

"We're not interested in short-term solutions for short-term political gain. Anytime that we would entertain any kind of assistance is if it's going to be a long-term concrete business plan," Cullen said.

"If we can participate in some kind of business plan like that, that's in the best interest of Manitoba over the long-term, we'll look at all kinds of options."

Cullen welcomedinvolvement from theTrudeaugovernment as stakeholderswork towards a solution.

'Don't want a handout'

Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government signaled last week it would not be bailing out the mill.

Dumas said potential partners "don't want a handout" from government to buy the mill. Instead, he says, they want"an investment in the people of the north."

"Whatever that means we need to determine what that is and we need to continue building upon our communities in the north," he said. "We need to encourage innovative ways of moving forward."

Dumas said the closure of the portand associated Hudson Bay rail line are related to the fact thatFirst Nations historically have not had aspot at the negotiation table.

He believes the port and rail line need to be owned by a Manitoba-based organization to ensure workers and communities aren't under the thumb of out-of-province corporations.

"Now that these things are being forced to restart or to be reinvigorated, it allows us to have a meaningful participation and ensure there is more longevity in how our north develops," he said."Really, we want to do what's right for the north, it's not just specifically for First Nations."