Objective 2: Promote Our Capabilities, Strengths & Advantages

Develop Transportation Linkages

Advance Trade & Investment Develop Transportation Linkages Promote Immigration Promote Tourism Promote Energy, Science & Technology Advance International Education

Manitoba exports about $9 billion worth of goods and services internationally, generating about 85,000 jobs. This could not be done without our highways, rail tracks, open skies, and waterways that enable trade and economic growth.

Our central location and access to north-south and east-west waterways have always been recognized as advantageous, making us a hub for Prairie trade and giving us a reputation as a transportation and distribution centre.

Our transportation systems are vital to our economy, both as linkages to foreign trade markets and as industries in their own rights. The critical importance of these systems has made their development and improvement one of the Province's key priorities.

The Government of Manitoba's specific international transportation efforts are focused around four inter-related and broad strategic initiatives:

• The Mid-Continent Trade Corridor Initiative is designed to promote economic growth by facilitating efficient trade with the United States and Mexico through improved transportation, distribution and border processing systems.

• The Churchill Gateway Development Initiative fosters enhanced and diversified international trade through our unique northern rail and sea-port assets. The Port of Churchill "Gateway" is linked to the North American economy by rail and represents the optimal route to key European, Mediterranean and African port destinations for much of Midwestern North America.

• The Inland Port Development Initiative works to capitalize on our advantageous central location by developing Winnipeg as an international air cargo gateway and strategic inland port to the North American market.

• The International Sustainable Transportation Initiative aims to develop our position as a global leader in the development and application of sustainable transportation practices, through international partnerships.

Effective partnerships are key to strengthening our transportation advantages and promoting continental and global trade. The Province is committed to partnering with the Government of Canada and many other local and international partners - governments, associations and industries - to address key issues that are fundamental to the effectiveness of our transportation systems, such as regulatory harmonization, border facilitation, infrastructure development, and technological innovation.

The horrific events of September 11, 2001, clearly illustrated the importance of cooperation to ensure the safety and security of our transportation systems and borders. The Province is dedicated to supporting Canadian and U.S. federal government efforts, and those of our neighbouring states, to address safety and security concerns, while efficiently facilitate the flow of legitimate goods and people across our borders.

The Province participates in several national and international conventions, committees and associations to assure efficient and functional regulatory linkages between our transport systems and practises and those of other jurisdictions. The harmonization of our systems with national and international systems on an engineering, policy, safety and financial treatment basis are critical to the seamless integration of our international trading framework.

Strategic Actions

The Government of Manitoba will:

• Strengthen efforts to promote economic development of the province and of the entire mid-North American region through the continued development of the Mid-Continent Trade Corridor. The Province will continue to be a leader in key corridor- and border-focused organizations such as the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance, North America's SuperCorridor Coalition, and Northern Great Plains Inc. - all of which are critical to moving corridor development forward. The Province will also continue to partner with American and Mexican corridor interests to develop a North American Inland Port Network.

• Promote the Port of Churchill's international gateway status through continued participation with the Churchill Gateway Development Corporation - a non-profit partnership mandated to market the Churchill Gateway to the world - to develop innovative logistics solutions to support the region's international trade needs.

• Strengthen the Winnipeg International Airport's reputation as an international air cargo gateway and strategic inland port characterized by intermodal facilities, storage and distribution capabilities, and a foreign trade zone - all linked to the world. It also includes promoting the airport's key features, such as its "24-7" operating status, its capacity to serve over 3 million passengers and 100,000 tonnes of air cargo annually, and especially its international cargo transhipment rights - one of few airports in Canada with this designation - meaning that international air cargo arriving into or destined for points outside of Canada can be moved by road, rail or air from Winnipeg.

• Develop an "Arctic Bridge" between the ports of Churchill and Murmansk, Russia, to tap into the transportation opportunities that the two ports offer to enhanced trade. The Province has already formalized a partnership with the Russian Province of Murmansk to this end.

• Develop new international air cargo route opportunities over the Arctic in partnership with Russia. The Province has agreed to pursue polar air route development with the Russian Province of Krasnoyarsk.

• Become a global leader in sustainable transportation through international partnerships with governments and industries. The Province is positioning Manitoba to be at the forefront of developments in new sustainable transportation approaches for example, through demonstrations and testing of hydrogen-hybrid transit buses and solar cars and all the economic opportunities and environmental benefits this will provide to Manitobans.