April 25, 2023
Manitoba Government Establishes Strategic Corridors Advisory Council
– – –Council to Strengthen Transportation Sector's Contributions to Economy: Piwniuk
To advance Manitoba’s economic growth and strengthen the province’s position within today’s shifting supply chains and trade corridors, the Manitoba government has established the Manitoba Strategic Corridors Advisory Council, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk announced today.
“Manitoba has a long and proud history as a trade and transportation gateway. Our government is committed to strengthening the province’s status as an international transportation hub and enabling strong economic activity within and across our borders,” said Piwniuk. “The new Manitoba Strategic Corridors Advisory Council will provide strategic advice to enhance the performance and resiliency of our provincial transportation network, strengthen the transportation sector’s contributions to the regional economy, and improve provincial supply chain fluidity.”
The minister noted that in addition to its favourable mid-continental location, Manitoba is home to many comparative advantages in trade and transport including:
- a strong railway network;
- a major trucking hub;
- Winnipeg Richardson International Airport — one of Canada’s busiest all-cargo freighter airports;
- Pembina-Emerson Port of Entry — one of the busiest truck trade border crossings west of Windsor-Detroit;
- CentrePort Canada — North America’s largest tri-modal inland port; and
- Port of Churchill — the closest tidewater link for much of the Prairies.
The work of the Manitoba Strategic Corridors Advisory Council will complement the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on economic corridors between Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta that was announced on April 11. The new council, consisting of Manitobans with expertise and first-hand experience related to the transportation and supply chain industry across several key modes, will support the MOU objectives by leveraging their expertise in assessing private-sector and Indigenous opportunities and partnerships for improvement or development of critical economic corridors.
Individuals appointed to the new council are:
- Barry Rempel (vice-chairperson), former president and CEO, Winnipeg Airports Authority;
- Dennis Cruise, president and CEO, Bituminex Paving and board chair of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association;
- Christian Sinclair, First Nation economic strategic planner and former Onekanew (chief) of Opaskwayak Cree Nation;
- Rob Penner, president and CEO, Bison Transport and board member of the Winnipeg Airports Authority;
- Grant Lazaruk, president and CEO, HyLife;
- Jeannette Montufar, founding partner and CEO, MORR Transportation Consulting;
- Joan Hardy, former senior executive, railway and grain sectors;
- Al Babiuk, former CEO, Loewen Windows.
“During this time of change impacting historic supply chains, opportunity presents itself once again to our region,” said Barry Rempel, vice-chairperson, Manitoba Strategic Corridors Advisory Council. “Effective policy and infrastructure are critical to success and I’m pleased to see the Manitoba government reaching for the potential this presents for the citizens of our province.”
The new advisory council will work with and complement the department’s strategic infrastructure programs including the Trade and Commerce Grid Initiative, the Winnipeg One Million Perimeter Freeway Initiative, and the National Trade Corridor Strategy added Piwniuk.
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