Economic relief coming for Churchill, feds say
Funds will not be spent on the Port of Churchill, says government spokesperson
The northern town of Churchill, which has been rattled by bad news with layoffs and the threat of their biggest employer shutting down, is about to get some good news.
The federal government is holding a news conference on Friday to announce funding to support economic development.
A spokesperson for Navdeep Bains, minister of innovation, noted however, the funds will not be used to invest in the Port of Churchill.
- Port of Churchill layoffs 'came out of nowhere,' says town's mayor
- Port of Churchill layoffs could devastate northern Manitoba economy, ministers say
Bains, who is also the minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada, will be in the northern Manitoba town to reveal details Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Churchill's town centre complex.
Dozens of workers were laid off in July from the Port of Churchill, the town's largest employer.
OmniTrax Rail, the Denver-based company that has owned and operated the port as well as the Hudson Bay rail line since 1997, says a slump in grain shipments has put a strain on the operation.