Manitoba creating Crown corp. to lead major projects

Key Takeaways:

• The Manitoba government will create the Manitoba Crown–Indigenous Corporation to lead major economic and trade projects, including the Churchill Plus Expansion.
• MCIC will center Indigenous leadership, support collaboration with federal and provincial bodies, and ensure transparent development that benefits communities and the economy.
• The government is funding studies on a marine protected area in Hudson Bay and using icebreakers to extend the shipping season, and will hold a town hall to consult local stakeholders.

The Whole Story:

The Manitoba government announced plans to establish the Manitoba Crown–Indigenous Corporation (MCIC), a partnership designed to lead major economic development and trade corridor projects, including the expansion of the Churchill Plus project, Premier Wab Kinew announced Tuesday during his State of the Province address.

“Churchill has always been a gateway to the world. For generations, people have seen its potential but what was missing was the partnership to bring it to life,” Kinew said. “MCIC is how we turn that potential into real progress — building stronger partnerships, strengthening trade connections and creating opportunities that start in the north and benefit all Manitobans and Canadians.”

The corporation represents a new approach to Crown–Indigenous partnerships in Canada, the premier said. MCIC will guide the next phase of the Churchill Plus project and ensure Indigenous leadership is central as the project advances. It will also support continued collaboration between the Manitoba government and the federal Major Projects Office.

The Manitoba government is working with First Nations leadership, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Manitoba Métis Federation as it prepares to introduce legislation in March 2026 to formally establish the corporation.

Once established, MCIC will co-ordinate the Churchill Plus project, support shared decision-making, ensure transparent development processes and advance opportunities that benefit Indigenous communities and Manitoba’s economy. The corporation will enhance consultation with Indigenous communities and ensure the project reflects environmental stewardship and Indigenous knowledge, the government said.

As part of the broader Churchill Plus work, the Manitoba government is providing a $250,000 investment to study the potential for a marine protected area in Hudson Bay in partnership with the federal government. The governments of Canada and Manitoba are also funding a feasibility study on the use of specialized icebreakers to extend the shipping season.

The Manitoba government will host a town hall in Churchill in February to hear from local leadership, residents, stakeholders and surrounding communities about improvements to the rail line and port project and to share information about the process.