ManitobaJohnQ Public has announced a proposed partnership with Chemawawin Cree Nation to turn agricultural land in the rural municipality of Ritchot into “one of Canada’s first eco-industrial rail parks,” even though the project initiated by the former Progressive Conservative government is now under review by the province’s NDP government. Chemawawin Cree Nation on deck to partner with JohnQ Public to build southern Manitoba rail portJoanne Levasseur · CBC News · Posted: Oct 17, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 7 hours agoAssembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Chemawawin Chief Clarence Easter, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson and JohnQ board chair Brad Erb toured the agricultural land west of St. Adolphe that is the site of a proposed rail port earlier this month. (JohnQ Public)A Manitoba corporation has announced a proposed partnership with Chemawawin Cree Nation to turn agricultural land in the rural municipality of Ritchot into “one of Canada’s first eco-industrial rail parks,” even though the project initiated by the former Progressive Conservative government is now under review by the province’s NDP government. JohnQ Public — a corporation owned by 12 Winnipeg-area municipalities — says a letter of intent signed with Chemawawin in August reflects a “commitment to reconciliation, inclusive economic growth and collaboration,” according to an Oct. 7 news release.The release says Chemawawin will “work as partners in the planning and development of the rail port,” but JohnQ provided no further details on how the partnership will work. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak and Association of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson attended a private site tour and briefing in early October, along with Chemawawin Chief Clarence Easter.JohnQ received $18 million in one-time funding from the previous PC government four days before the start of the 2023 election campaign, according to briefing notes obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information request.In July of this year, NDP Finance Minister Adrien Sala announced an internal review of the grant, stating it was “mysterious” to see the former government issue an $18-million grant without any public disclosure.NDP government reviewing $18M Manitoba rail port grant PCs made before 2023 electionManitoba PC campaign manager named in briefing note about rail port that got $18M grant before electionA subsequent access to information request revealed Marni Larkin, the campaign manager for the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party’s unsuccessful 2023 re-election bid, was named in an early briefing note about a rail port project. The grant was intended to help JohnQ purchase land west of Highway 75 for the rail port and conduct engineering and environmental assessments, according to a funding letter dated June 28, 2023, obtained through a freedom of information request.A July announcement of the $18-million project was planned but eventually scrapped, according to documents obtained through freedom of information.Working through ‘due diligence’: RM mayorPatrick Therrien, the mayor of the RM of Springfield — one of JohnQ’s member municipalities — presented an update on the project to municipal council on Tuesday, saying the delay in the announcement was due to private business considerations and confidentiality obligations. The Winnipeg Region Rail Port is envisioned as a collaboratively owned, “state-of-the-art” facility that can handle trucks and trains with connections to three major rail systems, Therrien said as he read a statement about the project into the public record at the council meeting. The rail port would allow access to the east and west coasts, Arctic Gateway’s northern Manitoba network and five Mexican gateways, Therrien said in the council meeting. JohnQ is working through “due diligence aspects” of the letter of intent, and more details about the partnership with Chemawawin — located about 400 kilometres north of Winnipeg — will be forthcoming, Therrien said during his briefing to council.The proposed partnership with Chimawawin marks “an important step forward, a stronger Indigenous relationship and shared prosperity,” he said.JohnQ and the Winnipeg Regional Rail port have secured a “first-of-its-kind” tax-sharing agreement that would see the 12 member municipalities share in the benefits of the rail project, Therrien told council.Under Manitoba law, municipalities have the power to enter into tax-sharing agreements without provincial review as long as the decisions are approved by the respective councils, according a departmental spokesperson who declined to be named. A progress report prepared by JohnQ Public for the NDP government in July 2024 stated the company was negotiating an agreement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, also known as BNSF, to serve as an anchor tenant and rail operator at the new rail port.On Thursday, JohnQ put out a public request for proposals for a three-month advisory services contract to identify business opportunities, potential tenants and recommendations for private investment. BNSF did not respond to a request for an update on the status of the negotiations prior to publication.JohnQ and Chemawawin Chief Clarence Easter also did not respond to a request for comment before publication.ABOUT THE AUTHORJoanne Levasseur is a producer for the CBC News I-Team based in Winnipeg. She has worked at CBC for more than two decades.
Rail port project under provincial review signs prospective partnership agreement with First Nation
