Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps, I can elaborate a little more. What we are currently doing in the Department of Transportation is looking at alternate routes out of Churchill into the Keewatin communities. There is some fear out there that the CN railhead requires somewhere around $60 million to $80 million to upgrade. There has been a decline in that traffic over the past five or ten years and I have instructed the department, in consultation with the regional groups, to work towards looking at possible alternatives should the railhead in Churchill not be upgraded and, in fact, be closed down. The specific issue of what the economic impact on the railhead is has been looked at. CN rail is not a viable entity. It is a subsidized entity into Churchill, it has been for a number of years. The difference between moving the fuel from Edmonton to Winnipeg to Churchill to Rankin to Whale Cove et cetera, versus a direct route from Montreal is significant with regard to savings for this government. We intend to pursue that more aggressively. I think the financial impact on the railhead really is not an issue because it is not viable now. It requires significant subsidies. I have spoken to my provincial counterparts in Manitoba and they seem to be unwilling to foot the kind of dollars that are required to bring that railhead up to standard.
John Todd on Question 719-12(3): Viability Of Churchill Railhead
In the Legislative Assembly on April 2nd, 1993. See this statement in context.
Return To Question 719-12(3): Viability Of Churchill Railhead
Question 719-12(3): Viability Of Churchill Railhead
Item 5: Oral Questions
April 1st, 1993
Page 1432
John Todd Keewatin Central
See context to find out what was said next.