Churchill marks dour milestone a year after layoffs at its port
Job losses total 93 across several industries in town of 899
One year after the Port of Churchill laid off its workers, the town of 899 estimates it's lost 93 full-time jobs due to the suspension ofactivity at the port, the subsequent closure of the Hudson Bay Railway and the resulting spinoff effects on the tourism and transhipment industry.
Mayor Mike Spence says his northern Manitoba town is devastated by its worst year since the Great Depression, when the Port of Churchill was completed.
"We pride ourselves as a port community, a railway terminus [and]an international tourism destination. And we're puzzled by the fact that here we are in this 2017, Canada's 150th birthday, that we're having the most challenging time," Spencesaid Tuesday in a telephone interview from Churchill.
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Port of Churchill owner OmniTRAXlaid off dozens of workers at the Port of Churchill on July 25, 2016. It later cut back freight service to the community beforethe Hudson Bay Railway was shuttered altogether this spring by heavy snowmelt.
Denver-based OmniTRAX, which has pegged the cost of repairing the line at $60 million, has no plans to conduct the work. The company has requested financial assistance from the province, which insists the port is a federal responsibility.
"It's one thing after another. It's been a long year,"said JoeStover, a laid-off port worker who returned to work at Churchill's airport and also works as a tour guide.
"We've neverhad the loss of therailway long-termbefore. Last year, the loss of the port, I thought,wasthelowestour moralecouldhavegot. Ireallyhadnoidea untiltheraillinewent out howdirectlyit would affect people."
It's one thing after another. It's been a long year.- Joe Stover, laid-off port worker
Stoversaid while has replaced some of his lost hours, he knows of several people who have left town to work on the Keeyask hydro-electric project on the Nelson River or have found jobs in southern Manitoba.
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The tourism industry has also been affected, mainly because independent travellers can no longer take the train to Churchill.
Gunter said Churchill can not prosper on tourism alone, as the high cost of shipping in all supplies by air or barge will eventually hobble the viability of the town's hospital and administrative complex.