Premier Meets With Prime Minister to Advance Churchill Plus, Health Care and Agriculture

Press Release

April 14, 2026

OTTAWA—Premier Wab Kinew met with Prime Minister Mark Carney today for their second quarterly meeting on the Churchill Plus Project, which followed the signing of a “one project, one review” collaboration agreement to streamline the regulatory process for major projects.

“Today’s agreement between Canada and Manitoba means shovels in the ground faster on major infrastructure projects that will transform our economy,” said Carney. “Together, we are cutting red tape and streamlining approvals to build new trade and energy corridors that will power our industries, create thousands of high-paying Canadian careers and expand our reach in global markets. We’re building Manitoba strong to build Canada strong.”

The Government of Canada is advancing nation‑building projects by working with provinces to create a “one project, one review” approach, streamlining major project approvals through a single, co-ordinated federal‑provincial process that upholds environmental protections and Indigenous rights.

The prime minister and the premier discussed next steps for the project including attracting private sector interest for an energy feasibility study, identifying near-term opportunities to increase the shipment of critical minerals from the port and establishing a framework and timeline for procuring icebreakers once an energy proponent is secured. They also discussed Churchill’s strategic role in defending Arctic sovereignty, the premier noted.

“As the war in Iran drives up energy costs and destabilizes global supply chains, the importance of Churchill cannot be overstated,” said Kinew. “By working together with First Nations and the federal government, we can open shipping lanes year-round with icebreakers, streamline the regulatory process and provide certainty to the private sector by setting the right conditions for a major project. Not only will Churchill help get Canadian energy to new markets in Europe and India, but investment in the town, port and rail line will help us defend Arctic sovereignty and strengthen our economic ties to Nunavut.”

The premier raised other infrastructure priorities with the prime minister and discussed federal funding for the new Victoria Hospital emergency room, a new Cancer Care headquarters and twinning the Trans-Canada Highway to the Ontario border. The premier also pushed for more support for producers, farmers and Manitoba’s agricultural industry, highlighting Manitoba’s investment in the GATE project in downtown Winnipeg and the Prairie Innovation Centre in Brandon.

The premier also met with the federal Emergency Management and Community Resilience Minister Eleanor Olszewski, minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson, federal National Defence Minister David McGuinty and federal Transport Canada Minister Steven Mackinnon to discuss working together to provide flood relief and support for the First Nation communities of Peguis and Fisher River.

While in Ottawa the premier attended a Yom HaShoah ceremony at the National Holocaust Memorial and spoke at a reception hosted by a Manitoba business delegation.

– 30 –

For more information:

• Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: mgi@gov.mb.ca or 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
• Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.
• Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: cabcom@manitoba.ca.

ILR4