The federal government is funding a $4.4 million study by the University of Calgary on permafrost conditions along the Hudson Bay Railway corridor in Northern Manitoba.
The money, announced July 13, comes through the Canadian government’s National Trade Corridors Fund.
“This funding will help address the hazards and impacts of climate change along the railway, keeping Indigenous and northern communities in Manitoba connected and safe,” said Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal.
Among the topics to be studied along the railway, Manitoba’s only land link to the Hudson Bay Port of Churchill, will be potential mitigation strategies and tools relating to permafrost hazards. The study’s results will be used to come up with strategies to ensure the safety and resiliency of the railway corridor.
“The Hudson Bay Railway is a vital piece of transportation infrastructure for Northern Manitoba and Churchill,” said Winnipeg South Centre MP Jim Carr. “This announcement is about investing in our security and will contribute to the future economic prosperity of this important transportation corridor. Northern communities need a safe and reliable rail line and it lays the foundation for good jobs and growth in Western Canada.”
