Premier Web Kinew says former federal cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy is “the best person” to lead a study on exploring relocating rail lines, including the Canadian Pacific Railway yards, in Winnipeg.
Kinew held a new conference Tuesday morning to announce Axworthy’s appointment, as the Free Press reported Monday.
“Manitoba’s rail lines are an essential part of what makes our province a central economic hub, and it’s important we explore the best options for its location,” Kinew said in a news release.
JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS
A cyclist crosses the Slaw Rebchuk Bridge over the Canadian Pacific Railway yards Monday.
“Axworthy is the best person to guide this process. With his proven leadership and commitment to our province, I know he will bring together the concerns of residents, the business community and all levels of government to bear on this important issue. We know this will be a long-term project, and our government looks forward to receiving the results of this study.”
Axworthy, a former University of Winnipeg vice-chancellor, said addressing long-standing issues related to railway lines and properties “opens significant opportunities for development of needed housing,” adding “open space will be a key aspect” of the study.
“It’s a propitious time to study the important relationship of the railways to our city and develop an integrated plan that can centre Winnipeg as the location of a major transportation hub,” he said in the release.
The study is expected to take two years and will include interim reports before recommendations are released in the final report.
Mayor Scott Gillingham, who was not at the news conference, said in a separate media statement that he fully supports appointing Axworthy.
“Studying rail relocation — especially looking at incremental improvements — was one of my campaign commitments, so I’m glad to see this moving forward,” he said in the statement.
Then-NDP premier Greg Selinger committed $400,000 for a similar feasibility study in 2016 and had gone as far as retaining former Quebec premier Jean Charest to lead the initiative. Kinew signalled his interest in reviving a relocation study in a December 2023 year-end interview with the Free Press.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca