Port of Churchill grain shipping operation on the Churchill River. Port of Churchill photo.
Canadian Prairie farmers from Manitoba and Saskatchewan have decided to press for the reestablishment of a the Canadian Wheat board, a single-desk system for marketing their grain to various world markets.
Over 50 farmers from the Pelly and Swan River areas of Saskatchewan and Manitoba met last week and passed a unanimous resolution requesting the re-establishment of the Canadian Wheat Board according to the Canadian Wheat Board Alliance.
The group says the loss of the Coordinating core board has lead to an increasingly disorganized, hap – hazard rail system, inconsistent grain quality guarantees for other nations and an $6.5 billion overall income loss for farmers over the past two years.
For more than 70 years, prairie farmers were forced to sell their grains to the CWB, which then would export it to foreign markets.Former agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz passed legislation ending the Canadian Wheat Board in 2012, and last year half of its assets were ultimately sold off to Saudi-owned G-3 Global Grain Group.
Ritz at the time had this to say: “Overall, logistics have been good,” said Ritz. “We’re seeing market share in premium markets going up. We’ve had no problem at all when we’re talking free trade agreements with other countries, they welcome the opportunity to buy more Canadian wheat. Apparently things are not going as planned.
However, with he Port of Churchill under consideration for purchase by a native group in Canada from current owner Omnitrax, this possible “renewed” direction could bode well for more consistent shipping from the Arctic port.
In case you missed Sunday’s piece about Churchill and the polar bears on CBS Sunday Morning, here it is. The footage of the region is spectacular! Enjoy
A fine shot by Alex de Vries – Magnifico of Natural Habitat Adventures group and guide Moira Le Patourel in Churchill. The northern lights were shining bright!
Three more cool northern lights photos from Alex De Vries Magnifico in Churchill. The Aurora Domes shot is a great view of the aurora above the domes from a low ground level angle. With the temperatures well below freezing, the comfort of the domes has been invaluable. With two dome shaped plexi-glass viewing areas. a comfortable lounge area and space outside to capture epic images, the Aurora Domes are unmatched when viewing the northern lights.
Wild shot of the Aurora Domes in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Wapusk Adventures compound up on Joe Buck’s Ridge off goose Creek Road requires a bit more courage when braving the frigid cold these past couple of weeks. A fire – warmed tee pee provides an amazing prop for this nearly perfected image with the northern lights in the sky. Another shot inside the tee pee gives a feel for what it’s like to live and survive in the age old shelter. Natural Habitat Adventures travelers have been awed by the experience on the dog sleds as well as the rustic feel around the compound.
A creative image of the tee pee at Wapusk Adventures dogsledding compound. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Inside the tee pee at Wapusk Adventures. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
This short documentary on Whimbrels in Churchill is a wonderfully concise and informative look into how these amazing shorebirds are tracked, trapped and studied across the bountiful tundra of the north country. This video was a production of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Multimedia Department for use in its undergraduate thesis project. It’s a great inside look at the dedication bird researchers have when studying and documenting these creatures. Churchill’s Arctic Summer is an incredible open air laboratory
