WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s premier says studies showing year-round shipping potential from the Port of Churchill boost the case for expanding the Arctic deepsea port.

Wab Kinew says the studies address a key concern from shippers and will help attract investment.

The studies suggest that advances in marine technology and declining sea ice due to climate change mean shipping can be greatly expanded from the current four-month window.

They also show the waterways could be navigated year-round by icebreakers, costing hundreds of millions of dollars rather than billions for more heavy-duty ships.

Kinew has championed a port expansion, including potential fossil fuel exports, as a key economic driver for the province.

The studies were conducted by the University of Manitoba, Fednav Ltd. and the Arctic Research Foundation, while funding came from the Manitoba and federal governments, as well as the Indigenous-owned Artic Gateway Group that owns the port.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 21, 2026.

The Canadian Press