Another year of low grain shipments will cripple and perhaps kill the northern Manitoba port of Churchill and hurt the long-term prospects of eastern Saskatchewan farmers, warns Lloyd Axworthy, vice-chair of the port’s advisory board.
He said the Canadian Wheat Board must support the port or face its loss.
“The question is whether there is enough volume that can be channelled through the port to keep it open,” said Axworthy during a public cry March 18 to save the port.
Grain exports, the prime business of the port, have collapsed during the past two drought years.
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Exports in 2002 equalled 279,000 tonnes, which is “way below the requirements to keep it open,” said Axworthy.
In 2001, 478,000 tonnes were exported through Churchill. In 2000, 710,000 tonnes were shipped through the port on Hudson’s Bay.
Axworthy said the long-term viability of the port depends on more grain and other products using it. But for the short term, more grain must flow through Churchill this year and Axworthy has called on the wheat board to support the port.
Wheat board spokesperson Louise Waldman said the board must ship grains along the route that brings the highest returns for farmers. She noted that the CWB is already the port’s largest customer and that few grains not covered by the wheat board’s monopoly use the port.
Waldman said the port needs to tap into more of those non-board grains.
Axworthy agreed but added the wheat board has an obligation to make Churchill work.
“This is not business as usual,” said Axworthy. “I think they need to make a more than business as usual effort.”
Manitoba transportation minister Scott Smith suggested the wheat board guarantee a certain amount of grain tonnage to help secure the port.
Tom Henley is a spokesperson for the company that owns the Hudson Bay Railway leading to the port and the port facility itself.
He said the facilities make up a cost-effective shipping route that saves Saskatchewan farmers money, but another year of low exports would damage the port again.
He would not say whether his company would consider closing the port after one more bad year.
Axworthy said the Saskatchewan and Canadian governments must work with the Manitoba government and the port to find a solution.
“It seems to me a horrible, a terrible irony that just as you’re reaching a point where new shipping routes are available … that we would shut down one of our key installations in the North,” said Axworthy.
Smith said Manitoba is committed to keeping the port and its rail line alive.
“We’re going to make sure that track stays open.”
