The Manitoba Chamber of Commerce held a special lunch gathering recently at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre in Winnipeg where Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Navdeep Bains answered questions regarding the future of Churchill and the closed rail line as well as tech, and trade in front of business leaders, Northern Representatives, and technology stake holders.

According to a news letter, Bains is hopeful that a resolution can be found with the current owners of the rail line to Churchill and he hopes that rail service will be brought back this year.

Bains also answered questions about how Manitoba fits into the government’s innovation agenda, the government’s arctic strategy, and how the federal government views Northern Manitoba, stating that the government sees the North as “Critical to Canada.”

When asked about the governments Arctic Strategy it was stated that It is not known when it will be released but Bains hopes that it will be released in a few months.