UM TodayPort of Churchill – UM Today

CBC: The economic impact the Port of Churchill if ..it expands.

Eleanor Coopsammy — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:09:33 +0000

CBC’s Faith Fundal speaks with Dr. Shiu-Yik Au, Associate Professor of Finance at the Asper School of Business, who suggests hundreds or even thousands of jobs could be created if the expansion of Port of Churchill goes through.

To listen to the entire interview, please visit CBC News.

CBC: The journey toward an expanded Port of Churchill has only just begun

Eleanor Coopsammy — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 22:49:23 +0000

Dr. Barry Prentice, Professor and Director of the University of Manitoba Transport Institute (UMTI), said the only location near Churchill that is less exposed is Button Bay, west of the Churchill River. That location has the added advantage of sitting west of the estuary where thousands of belugas congregate during the summer. “You would have to have a bridge, but it’s close enough to the town of Churchill and still yet far enough away that it wouldn’t interfere with the belugas and so on,” Dr. Prentice said.

To read the entire article, please visit CBC.

Toronto Star: Could natural gas unlock new potential for Churchill’s port?

Eleanor Coopsammy — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 20:43:53 +0000

Dr. Barry Prentice, Professor and Director of the University of Manitoba Transport Institute (UMTI), Supply Chain Management Department, said such a pipeline would be difficult to build in northern Manitoba, where melting permafrost can lead to engineering challenges, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. “They built a pipeline across Alaska, across some of the same kind of territory, and they built it above ground,” he said.

To read the full interview, please visit Toronto Star.

CTV: Impact of Port of Churchill expansion on wildlife

Eleanor Coopsammy — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:54:12 +0000

The expansion of the Port of Churchill raises concerns about increased marine traffic and noise disrupting beluga whale populations, as highlighted by Dr. Marianne Marcoux, Adjunct Professor, Biological Sciences of the University of Manitoba. Research indicates that shipping noise can alter whale behaviour, potentially impacting their foraging and communication. Mitigating noise through quieter ships and optimized routes is crucial to protect marine life in the area.

To watch the full interview, please visit CTV News.

CTV News: Researchers highlight risks in expanding shipping routes in the Arctic

Eleanor Coopsammy — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 22:02:05 +0000

For centuries, ice has covered Hudson Bay for most of the year. Now researchers at the University of Manitoba say climate change is melting the ice at an unprecedented rate, opening the door for more ships to pass through for longer periods throughout the year.

For the town of Churchill, in northern Manitoba, this brings a lot of opportunity but there are fears it could also have environmental consequences. “We’re not just observant based, we’re actually doing studies to address challenges, issues associated with a rapidly opening Hudson Bay,” said Dr. Feiyue Wang, Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) Department of Environment and Geography
and Centre for Earth Observation Science and Director of the CMO. “With increasing shipping and development in the region, you have an increasing risk of oil spills.”

To read the full article, please visit CTV News.

The Free Press: Nation building needs research — not just infrastructure

Jill Condra — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 15:43:30 +0000

As written in the Free Press by Dr. Mario Pinto, Vice-president Research and International at the University of Manitoba.

Living through the second Trump administration as a Canadian has been likened, by one commentator, to a teenager being kicked out of the house. We must grow up fast and deal with the fact that we can now only rely on ourselves. So, the federal government is moving fast on files related to security, sovereignty and connectivity. The Liberals passed Bill C-5 to expedite projects that will help Canadians live on our own. Wonderful.

But.

In our rush forward, we cannot overlook the power of nation-building research, which must go hand-in-glove with these infrastructure projects. Research and infrastructure are not competing priorities: they are essential partners in nation-building.

Bill C-5, the Building Canada Act, grants the federal government sweeping powers to quickly build large projects that help goods move faster and more easily. This act intends to strengthen our security, autonomy, resilience and advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples. But there can be no nation-building without nation-building research.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has prioritized a project to enhance the Port of Churchill in Hudson Bay. A developed Hudson Bay region can open a stable and sustainable global supply-chain hub, bringing with it transformative socioeconomic change. But research funding is needed to bolster and protect this investment, our rare deepwater Arctic port risks falling short of its potential, or, worse, causes harm to the communities it aims to serve.

Read the full article here.

Media coverage: Port of Churchill research and development potential

Eleanor Coopsammy — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 22:51:40 +0000

People are talking about UM, its research and impact in Churchill and for Manitoba’s economic future.

UM research mention- Free Press/The Canadian Press

Fei Wang, Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1), Department of Environment and Geography
Centre for Earth Observation Science and lead for Churchill Marine observatory spoke about the one-year anniversary of the opening of the observatory

CBC Manitoba- Radio noon

CTV Winnipeg

While Mario Pinto, V.P. Research (International) and Barry Prentice, Professor in Supply Chain Management and Director of UM’s Transport Institute spoke to various media outlets about the federal government’s recent indication that the Port of Churchill is a key priority for developing better trade route with Europe, Africa and the Americas.

CJOB radio

Global Winnipeg

Opinion: Manitoba holds the key to nation building in Canada

Jill Condra — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:36:25 +0000

Excerpt from the Globe and Mail.

Dr. B. Mario Pinto is a vice-president (research and international) at the University of Manitoba.

Donald Trump’s insistent focus on tariffs and trade rebalancing represents a serious challenge for Canada.

In responding to calls for action, individual Canadians have been boycotting American goods and travel and rallying around the “Buy Canadian” mantra. Nationally, easing or removing inter-provincial trade barriers, diversifying our trading partners, and initiating large-scale, national infrastructure projects to ensure our resources and products can flow readily across Canada (and reach global markets) has been in the spotlight.

The House of Commons recently passed Bill C-5, or the Building Canada Act. In his speech announcing the legislation’s passage through the House, Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted his vision for advancing nation-building projects in order to strengthen Canada’s economy.

However, it will be challenging to rally and sustain public backing and the support of all provincial and territorial governments. For example, there is no clear consensus on expanding existing energy pipelines or building new ones to transport energy products to tidal water. In B.C., Premier David Eby is focused on maximizing the TransMountain pipeline before considering additional infrastructure between Alberta and Prince Rupert, B.C. Quebec Premier François Legault has committed only to studying any proposed projects going through his province.

Read the full article at The Globe and Mail.

Free Press: Andrea Charron, importance of Port of Churchill

Eleanor Coopsammy — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 19:50:13 +0000

Andrea Charron, director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba is part of this Free Press story around the importance of the Port of Churchill.

Read

CBC Manitoba: Manitoba has few options to ‘Trump-proof’ its economy in next 30 days, experts say

Fiona Odlum — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 17:24:11 +0000

While the reprieve may give businesses some room to build up inventories and explore potential alternative suppliers or markets, it’s not nearly enough time to make substantial structural changes in terms of production, a University of Manitoba economics professor says.

“In general, I would say 30 days is not a whole lot of time, and for big, big export volumes and big projects, it’s nowhere near going to be close enough,” said Fletcher Baragar.

To read the entire story which includes comments from UM Director of the Transport Institute, Barry Prentice, please follow the link to CBC Manitoba.