ManitobaPremier Wab Kinew says Manitoba is planning three energy projects that could generate $30 billion in new economic activity — a value equal to more than a third of the province’s existing gross domestic product.One is Churchill port expansion that requires federal cash; Kinew won’t name other 2Bartley Kives · CBC News · Posted: Oct 27, 2025 10:05 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe Port of Churchill is Canada’s only rail-accessible deepwater port on Arctic waters. Manitoba has asked the federal government to fund an expansion. (CBC)Premier Wab Kinew says Manitoba is planning three energy projects that could generate $30 billion in new economic activity — a value equal to more than a third of the province’s existing gross domestic product.Speaking on a podcast on Saturday, Kinew said Manitoba has three megaprojects on the horizon. “One that we’re almost certainly going to do, a second that we’re trying to put the financing piece together and the third which has been very public, which is the Port of Churchill,” Kinew told podcaster David Herle, a former federal Liberal advisor.“If we build the three of those our to the full extent, then Manitoba can become a ‘have’ province and not like 40 years in the future; like within the next five, 10 years type of thing.”Kinew promised in September to wean Manitoba off federal transfer payments by 2040 but did not specify how the province would generate the revenue required to shed its current ‘have-not’ status.The premier has said the expansion of the Port of Churchill could eventually generate additional billions for the province, should Mark Carney’s Liberal government agree to fund the megaproject.Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kinew refused to reveal the nature of the other two megaprojects he spoke about on the podcast.“There’s going to be hopefully $30 billion dollars worth of economic activity we bring to the province, maybe more, if we get all these projects we’re looking at lined up,” the premier said in his office over the noon hour.“They are in the energy space, but when we’re ready to roll things out, we’ll make sure you all are the first to know.”Manitoba Hydro, like almost every power utility on the continent, is trying to increase its generating capacity. The provincial Crown corporation has warned the province it must double or even triple its existing 6,100-megawatt generating capacity in the coming decades to meet the skyrocketing demand for electricity.Manitoba Hydro has also warned it runs the risk of winter power shortages within four years and already lacks the capacity to connect all new energy-intensive industrial operations to Manitoba’s electrical grid.Those operations include data centres. Nonetheless, Kinew met on Oct. 3 with a Bell Canada lobbyist who wanted to discuss “AI in Manitoba,” among other subjects, according to the provincial lobbyist registry.Kinew would not say Monday what that meeting involved, but hinted at an announcement in six weeks.“I don’t know if we have any news to share on that today, but I’d encourage you all to check out the state of the province address this December,” Kinew said.Manitoba’s Opposition Leader, meanwhile, was not impressed with Kinew’s claim three projects could vastly improve this province’s economic fortunes.“I think it’s another big flashy announcement by the premier with absolutely no backing, no dates, no timeline [and] no plan,” PC Leader Obby Khan said in an interview.Hydro, for its part, has started to address its energy crunch by seeking to partner up with Indigenous-led power companies in an effort to add 600 megawatts to the province’s generating capacity. It has also sought regulatory approval to build a new fuel-burning power plant to generate another 500 megawatts.ABOUT THE AUTHORBartley Kives joined CBC Manitoba in 2016. Prior to that, he spent three years at the Winnipeg Sun and then 18 at the Winnipeg Free Press, writing about politics, music, food and outdoor recreation. He’s the author of three books – two of them Canadian bestsellers – and the winner of a Canadian Screen Award for reporting.
Manitoba plans 3 megaprojects that could generate combined $30B in economic activity, premier says
