Support Our Port

Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau in regards to the crisis in Churchill, Manitoba.

In response to the news that a private consortium has walked away from purchasing the Churchill rail line and port from Omnitrax Canada, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE) are calling for both the port and rail line to be returned to public ownership.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is pleased to support the Emergency Food Drive initiated by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Alumni Association. The PSAC Social Justice Fund, PSAC Prairie Region and the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE – a component of PSAC) are covering the cost of the air freight with the help and support of Calm Air. 

Marianne Hladun, the prairie region executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), said Omnitrax’s decision to file suit against the federal government rather than attempt to show progress in repairing the critical line is a sign its interests are more important than those of the people of Churchill.

After many weeks of no response, on Friday September 20th UCTE RVP Teresa Eschuk and PSAC REVP Marianne Hladun had a teleconference with Minister Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Minister Bains was in Churchill, Manitoba to announce a $4.6 million investment in both short and long-term economic development for the community.