Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
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Creating Opportunities Consultations
Adding Value in Rural and Northern Manitoba
Aboriginal and Northern
OPPORTUNITIES
Members of northern and Aboriginal communities have issues similar to other rural communities. However, the history and traditions of these communities and Manitoba’s geography create opportunities that may be capitalized on and challenges that may be reduced by co-operation between communities and government. There is huge potential in the untapped human and natural resources in northern Manitoba. However, while some communities suffer from labour shortages, others struggle with under-employment.
There is a desire in communities to become less dependent on single industries. Residents in these communities see potential for tourism development by taking advantage of a unique history, culture and landscape. Opportunities for further development include scientific research, harvesting and processing of non-timber forest products and local manufacturing (ex: food and building materials) to replace expensive imports.
Churchill’s deep sea port, rail terminal and airport create transportation-related opportunities for the region, including expanding Churchill’s role as a transportation node, and the possibility of developing inland terminals for shipping to and from Churchill.
With a cruiseship making a stop in Churchill in July 2006, and the Arctic sovereignty plan of the current federal government, community leaders are optimistic that additional opportunities will help to strengthen the northern economy.
CHALLENGES
- Financial – For remote communities, access to capital, transportation and labour costs can be a challenge for development of new industry.
- Human Resources – There is a need for local educational and training facilities, especially for delivering training currently needed by local employers.
- Community Capacity – Co-operation and communication between communities is needed. Smaller communities sometimes lack the resources to pursue development opportunities.
- Infrastructure – Many communities rely on a single employer. Local transportation infrastructure (road, rail or port) needs to be improved to provide access to resources and to accommodate the shipping requirements of new industries.
- Regulations – Transportation, marketing, licensing and other regulations are not flexible enough to accommodate new development opportunities, and information on regulations is not reaching the public.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Governments, communities and industries should work together to:
- Foster dialogue and co-operation between neighbouring communities. They should encourage people to interact with and learn the history and culture of other communities, with a focus on matching local initiatives to regional needs.
- Explore development of the Port of Churchill as an intermodal transportation hub and to investigate opportunities for additional inland feeder hubs.
- Encourage harvesting and processing of non-timber forest products and other local products (ex: wild rice, mushrooms, birch syrup, maple syrup, maple liquor, mint tea, herbs, spices and berries).
- Encourage locally developed substitutes for expensive imported products (ex: food and building materials).
- Examine opportunities to deliver more training programs using underused community facilities, with a particular focus on youth and communities with high unemployment.
- Develop training programs that have the flexibility to adapt quickly to changing local needs.
- Review regulations (ex: transportation, marketing, licensing), to simplify them where possible and to identify ways to clearly communicate regulations to the public.
