As it currently stands, Churchill is a dying, isolated town at the northern edge of Manitoba - and Canada's railroad network. It is host to two noteworthy things: polar bear tourism and a wheat export terminal. It is connected to the rest of the country by rail and air, and thanks to the former, it is the most integrated of Canada's Hudson Bay settlements. Given its strategic location and pre-existing infrastructure, it should be among the pillars of a Canadian northern strategy.
1. Public Sector initiatives
1a. The Military
Churchill's first importance in the era to come is as a strategic military base. While Churchill is removed from the region of the Northwest Passage, it could play a significant role in supporting Canadian sovereignty in that region. Given its connection to the rest of Canada through its railroad, Churchill would be the logical place for a supply depot and maintenance base for Canadian ships and aircraft, while benefiting from geographic isolation from potential conflict areas further north.
Further, its environment provides the Canadian military with an essential training area for Arctic and northern conditions - something which it is already doing in an impermanent and inconsistent way.
Accordingly, Churchill should be prioritized at the located of a combined Naval-Air Force-Army-Rangers base.
What should first take shape is the refurbishment and expansion of a military airport, hand-in-hand with the development of a naval dockyard capable of docking and repairing a large number of Canadian warships. The air field would provide staging, maintenance and observation services for the region, capable of Armed, transport and surveillance missions simultaneously, while the naval yard would provide basing opportunities for the navy. Housing of families and personnel would be considered essential - this is no temporary post.
As the navy and air force establish themselves in Churchill, they can start sparing excess construction capacity and experience to allow the army to develop a permanent training centre, depot and Ranger HQ in the town. Further excess capacity can be redirected towards other new Canadian northern bases in Iqaluit, Nanisivik, and Tuktoyuktuk.
The end stage for each service should look like this:
Navy
- Docking facilities for at least six warships;
- Repair facilities for at least one ship;
- Establishment of housing and shore facilities for the crews and their families;
- Including parts and ammunition depots.
Air Force
- Air Field and hangars for Fighters, Transports, Drones, training, and surveillance aircraft;
- Advanced radar stations and possibly air defence capability;
- Housing for crews and their families
- Depots for parts and munitions;
- A northern air training centre.
Army
- Training centre for northern operations;
- Ranger Headquarters and depot;
- Depot for training, munitions and parts; and
- Base defence force.
1b. Government services
The new government establishments at Churchill should include Coast Guard, Fisheries and Oceans, and University services. Environmental and Railroad regulatory personnel would also need to be present. With such an investment in military and government services as listed above, there would also have to be provincial investments or support for expanded healthcare and primary/secondary education.
A Northern University has been proposed for many years, but so far there has been very little movement towards this. Such a place in Churchill would be a logical first home for Inuit and Cree studies, and natural sciences focused on the Arctic environment, flora and fauna. A Northern Engineering program would enable Canada to develop expertise in constructing, maintaining and improving northern settlements, which will be key to growth elsewhere. Lastly, given the importance of the North to the future of the world, International Relations should also be key.
As a final consideration, it might also make sense to renationalize the old Canadian Wheat Board, and its terminal at Churchill.
2. Private Sector initiatives
This massive public sector investment would see the movement of thousands of government employees, soldiers, their families, and the various teachers, health care workers, construction workers and others to make it possible. Accordingly, Churchill should turn into a bonanza for some time. To ensure that the boom doesn't just come and go, leaving another depressed military station like Cold Lake, there are a few initiatives that could encourage a more stable and growing economy.
Deeper integration with the rest of Canada could be accomplished through the expansion of the local airport and railroad. More reliable movement of goods and people should encourage easier tourism and lower cost of living and travel.
Expansion of the port to include LNG and oil export terminals could broaden the economic base of the city. Installation of cranes could also allow for ocean going merchant vessels to make stops at Churchill. A further expansion of the port could allow for dockyard facilities for Cruise ships and pleasure craft, or a fishing fleet, which could add tourist dollars and new business opportunities to the city. While there is limited potential for a commercial fishery there, some amount of fishing could help support the population.
(Incomplete, but better than nothing)
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