The ongoing issues with the Churchill rail line were a hot topic at the June 12 Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce.
Doug Webber, a former mayor of Churchill and business owner, was present at the meeting. Webber shared his thoughts with chamber members about the ongoing issues with the town’s rail line, which has been closed for more than a year.
“I think you really have to dwell on the positive, downplay the negative, turn all the negative into positive any way you can. It’s not always easy to do in a situation like what we have in Churchill,” said Webber.
“The only way we can get anything in or out now is by air or by ship in the summertime. It really does give one an opportunity to become creative.”
Webber also mentioned his thoughts on the recent deal reached to purchase the rail line. In May, a consortium including northern Manitoba-based companies Missinippi Rail and One North reached an agreement in principle to buy the line and additional assets from Colorado-based Omnitrax. The City of Flin Flon purchased ownership stakes in One North in early May, weeks before the deal was reached.
“I think there’s a lot of positives about a consortium like the one that’s been put together,” said Webber.
“One of the things that has been against Churchill for quite some time is what I call navel-gazing – just worrying about what’s in your own backyard instead of worrying about your community. You’re worried about your community, you’re worried about your province, you’re worried about your country. Usually, what’s good for you is going to be good for someone else, but you can hoard your marks. You’ve got to do what you can to help promote others, other projects and other concepts. This consortium being more of a total western entity, I think, will be good for Churchill and good for Canada. I’m quite positive about it and I think it’s going to open up some new opportunities.”
