September 23, 2013
Province of Manitoba, CentrePort Sign Land Transfer Agreement
– – –Deal Allows CentrePort to Move Forward on New Rail Facility
The Province of Manitoba and CentrePort Canada today signed a land transfer agreement that will give the inland port corporation better means to develop 747 acres located within its footprint, the majority of which has been designated for the construction of a common-use rail facility and adjacent industrial park, Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton announced today.
“This is a major step forward for CentrePort and brings us closer to the day when shipments of goods will be flowing into the province and from here to all corners of the world,” Ashton said. “CentrePort will open new doors for Manitoba companies, be a huge boost for our trade and create countless new jobs.”
“Winnipeg is the only city on the Prairies served by three Class I rail carriers (CN, CP and BNSF) and developing a common-use rail facility at CentrePort will build on this tremendous advantage,” said Don Streuber, chair of CentrePort Canada’s board of directors, who signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU). “It will also provide rail-intensive businesses with the benefits of being able to invest and grow their operations right next to the rail facility and on prime industrial land.”
The land covered by the agreement comprises 747 acres divided into three parcels within CentrePort’s 20,000-acre footprint. The main parcel is 667 acres and is located immediately south of the CP mainline and west of the new expressway, CentrePort Canada Way, which is nearing completion. This section has been designated as the site of CentrePort’s new
common-use rail facility and industrial park. A map of the land being transferred can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2013/09/centreport_canada.pdf.
“The goal is for the facility to be accessible by all three Class I rail carriers and we have been working with the industry on our development plans,” said Diane Gray, president and CEO of CentrePort Canada. “There is a real opportunity for this facility to be a differentiator for CentrePort among North American inland ports, and this collaboration between government, CentrePort and industry will allow us to move forward with our plans.”
The agreement is consistent with CentrePort’s mandate under the CentrePort Canada Act, which includes facilitating the “…long-term development and operation of the inland port…” and facilitating and encouraging investment at CentrePort, Ashton said. Under the MOU, CentrePort will be the primary facilitator for development and investment in the lands. This will also permit CentrePort to generate own-source revenues and become less reliant on government funding.
CentrePort Canada is Manitoba’s 20,000-acre inland port and the first logistics hub in the country to offer investors single-window access to foreign trade zone benefits. Located in the heart of North America, CentrePort Canada connects to major national and international trade gateways and corridors, and is the only inland port in Canada to offer direct access to tri-modal transportation including truck, rail and air cargo.
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The Government of Manitoba is distributing this release on behalf of the Province of Manitoba and CentrePort Canada.