Manitoba taps former federal cabinet minister to lead Winnipeg rail relocation study

WINNIPEG — Longtime federal Liberal cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy has been tapped by the Manitoba government to lead a study into the decades-old issue of relocating rail lines in Winnipeg.

Premier Wab Kinew announced Axworthy’s appointment on Tuesday, after the NDP government allocated $200,000 from this year’s budget toward the study.

Kinew told reporters that Axworthy is the right person to oversee the project because he has a “ton of horsepower and a lot of smarts.”

The premier added Axworthy is to outline the global, economic and community benefits of rail relocation.

“What’s the right mix between having the rail lines continue to power our economy and then weighing that against considerations around housing, around society, around community needs?”

Axworthy said he hopes the study will also outline a plan to centre Manitoba’s capital as a major transportation hub.

He is optimistic a feasible plan could be developed after further conversations with the federal government, railway companies, social agencies and the community at large.

“We’re not talking about miracles. We’re talking about a serious step-by-step (plan), where we can actually demonstrate significant changes in certain parts of the railway system,” said Axworthy.

Proponents of rail relocation say it would increase safety by no longer shipping hazardous materials through residential areas.

They also cite a desire to remove large rail yards that serve as barriers between neighbourhoods. The Arlington bridge, which runs over a rail yard that divides central Winnipeg from northern neighbourhoods, has been shut down due to its aging structure, leaving motorists and pedestrians to navigate long detours.

Non-profit groups say the benefits of rail relocation extend beyond core neighbourhoods.

Kate Kehler, executive director of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, said research suggests approximately 75 per cent of Winnipeggers live within 800 metres of a rail line.

“It impacts the entire city. It’s not just a north-south issue. This makes relocation a health, safety, environmental and land-use issue for the majority of the city,” she said.

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham has been in favour of exploring rail relocation, citing the need for more housing or active transportation spaces.

“This issue has been debated in Winnipeg for many years, but we need solid information on costs, potential funding sources and the impact on rail operations, jobs and city infrastructure,” Gillingham said in a release.

“This data will help guide future decisions.”

The idea of moving rail lines has been brought up since the 1960s, and the cost has been estimated at well above $1 billion.

In 2016, the NDP government of the day promised to spend $400,000 on a study to look at the cost and feasibility of moving rail lines. The province hired former Quebec premier Jean Charest to lead the effort.

Months later, the Progressive Conservatives were elected and then-premier Brian Pallister axed the plan.

Kinew said the province will have to consider the overall cost and whether the project could be done incrementally.

“I am concerned about cost, because when you hear the potential price tags being floated, you have to seriously consider how we could tackle something like that,” the premier said when questioned by reporters.

“Honestly, the only way we would be able to proceed is with buy-in from all levels of government, including the feds.”

Canadian Pacific Kansas City, which has its continent-spanning rail network crossing through Winnipeg, has discussed the idea with the Manitoba government “on multiple occasions over many years,” a spokeswoman said in an email Tuesday.

“Evaluating the feasibility of relocating railway infrastructure is an enormously complex matter and the magnitude of the challenges should never be underestimated,” said Rebecca Stephen.

“A comprehensive study that considers all factors would be required to evaluate the feasibility of relocating rail infrastructure without compromising safety, essential rail service to customers, capacity for future growth, and also capture the full costs, which will be significant.”

Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The federal government has provided funds for other rail relocation projects, including in Regina in 2022.

Kinew said the province would look to the study to provide options for smaller projects that can be completed in the next few years, and a plan for a longer-term solution.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2024.

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press