The federal and Manitoba governments announced steps toward a possible expansion of the Port of Churchill on Hudson Bay.

The idea of improving the port and a railway that serves it is among several nation-building projects touted by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

In a joint statement, the leaders said, “We are working together to advance how expanded export capacity in the North through Hudson Bay will contribute to increased and diversified trade with Europe and other partners, while more strongly linking Churchill to the rest of Canada.”

But it’s not clear when the project may come to fruition, as it is based on several requirements including a Crown-Indigenous corporation the province has yet to establish.

The federal government will fund a feasibility study of deploying icebreakers, ice tugs and research vessels at the Port of Churchill, the statement said.

Kinew said that Manitoba will invest an additional $51 million for the Arctic Gateway Group, which owns and operates the Churchill port. The new investment by the provincial government brings its share to a total of $87.5 million for railway connectivity and a storage facility for critical minerals at the port.

The federal government previously announced a $175 million in funding in March.

Port of Churchill expansion was not among the six projects that Carney announced last Thursday. But, Kinew had hinted that the announcement might be made soon.

The two leaders also attended a ceremony marking the 140th anniversary of the execution of Métis leader Louis Riel.

–With files from The Canadian Press