With protests of the Coastal GasLink pipeline in B.C. taking place across the country, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says he is open to talking about a pipeline to Churchill.
The notion comes seven years after the NDP government of the time said no to the idea of shipping oil by rail to Churchill.
“The previous NDP government dismissed the very idea of shipping oil products out of Churchill out of hand, without even looking at it,” said Pallister. “We’re very, very big on northern development and I’m very, very committed to working in partnership with affected people in northern Manitoba-including First Nations and Métis people- to make sure that we find great job opportunities and economic development opportunities for northern communities.”
Many politicians have pushed for a Churchill pipeline to try and get oil form Alberta and Saskatchewan onto tankers bound for international markets.
As it stands right now there is no company proposing to build the pipeline.
When a proposal was made to ship oil to Churchill by rail in 2013, the Manitoba government opposed the plan over fears of a potential spill devastating the environment, and in turn tourism to the region.
Many opponents have also said that the boggy terrain of the area would cause stress to the pipeline due to the subarctic ground heaving and shifting.
