WINNIPEG – Conditions were less than ideal as Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Manitoba’s premier helped cut the ribbon Friday on a new 212-million dollar highway linking the Perimeter to Winnipeg’s in-land port.
When finished CentrePort will be a one stop hub for trucks, trains and air traffic in a Federal Foreign Trade Zone. The goal is to bring Manitoba business to the world and the world to Manitoba.
“It should remind us that for Manitoba and for Canada, big things are on the way,” Prime Minister Harper commented at a press conference after the main event.
“It is a primary location to all major railways. All major trucking companies are locating around here,” said Greg Selinger. “With this infrastructure, (CentrePort) will be a magnet for future growth in Manitoba.”
The Premier says that means jobs for Manitobans, and an increased tax base.
The opening of CentrePort Canada Way however, is just the first step in a long list of to do’s. The city, the province, and the RM of Rosser are still fighting about who pays for the expensive infrastructure.
“You can’t do something like building a $200 million highway to attract business and not have the sewer and water lined up there,” Chuck Davidson of the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce told Global News. “This is something the province, city and municipality need to get together on and fix.”
Thirty-one businesses have purchased almost 200 acres of the CentrePort land since the idea was launched five years ago.
A spokesperson said they’re confident the city and province have come up with plans to service the area and keep the project rolling forward.
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