Utility Corridor – Uniting Canadians
The NeeStaNan Utility Corridor Project will be led by First Nations. Prairie commodities such as potash, natural gas, wheat, and bitumen are landlocked in Western Canada. Current methods of transporting these resources are costly and inefficient, involving transporting resources via rail or pipelines to the west through the Rocky Mountains to reach international markets..
The NeeStaNan Utility Corridor will provide rail transportation for Potash to be shipped out of Port Nelson, Manitoba. Currently, potash is being railed to Port Moody, Vancouver. This is a longer more difficult route with mountains and a crowded port to contend with. NeeStaNan Utility Corridor will create opportunities by reducing rail by over “630 km” and shipping route by “3800 km”.
The NeestaNan Corridor would reduce the distance by over 4400 km - making it over 30% shorter.
New railway capacity
Connecting Canada’s agricultural products and minerals to international markets.
New international trade routes for Canada’s commodities.
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The proposed NeeStaNan Utility Corridor will be designed to deliver economic, environmental and social benefits to First Nations’ communities and Canada by diversifying how we transport natural resources to national and international markets, safely and responsibly.
The new additional Rail lines and seaport infrastructure provided by the project would deliver new growth opportunities across Canada’s natural resource sector agriculture and mining industries.
Nee Sta Nan aims to exceed environmental standards throughout its operations. Our plan would reduce nearly 30% of greenhouse gas emissions currently been produced by both Rail & Shipping. Phase 2 of the project .by increasing the use of hydroelectric power in western provinces and shaving thousands of kilometres off existing international oil shipping routes.
A Fort McKay First Nations’ member provides an overview of the project as well as his perspectives on the economic, environmental and social transformation the utility corridor can bring to First Nations and Canadians.
NeeStaNan’s proposed Port Nelson, Manitoba shipping routing helps to shave thousands of kilometres from existing trade routes, generating more revenues, reducing GHG emissions and bringing more responsibly produced Canadian natural resources to Canadians and world markets. Port Nelson is 630 kilometres closer by rail to tidewater than ports on the west coast, and, 3800 km closer to market by ship (example is to Brazil market for Saskatchewan Potash). In summary, the NeeStaNan corridor can save time and cost and shave 3,500 to 5,500 kilometres from existing transportation routes to Europe, the US Gulf Coast and South America.
“No matter your walk of life everybody wants to provide for their family. This is what these projects do. However, you’ve got to be going in with a willing mind, not only to protect your rights and title, but also to build a future for the next generation.” - Ellis Ross, Former Chief Councillor of Haisla Nation MLA, Skeena BC
Port Nelson would be the shipping gateway of the NeeStaNan project, providing Canadian exporters with new, shorter routes to bring their products to new Canadian and world markets. “Canada is a global leader in clean electricity generation, but it will need to do much more to achieve its future affordably and reliably. A more integrated grid will be a key tool in accomplishing this feat.” - Nick Martin, policy analyst and author
2019 PRODUCT EXPORTS $431B
Canada's goods exports rose significantly in June, up 8.7%
"The rail line is a lifeline for those communities, quite frankly, and what is keeping that open is exports. So the conversation with respect to the potential of shipping some of our energy products out of a northern or an Arctic port is a fair conversation for us to have,"
Premier Scott Moe said in Regina
“I say, the Creator created all things for a purpose. It’s not in the use of them, it’s in the abuse where things go wrong. I say we can develop our resources as long as we’re cognizant of the fact we need to put back. For every dollar you spend on development you can spend a dollar on the environment. Both will have their returns.” - Robert Wavey, Former Chief & CEO, Fox Lake Cree Nation, Former Deputy Minister, Manitoba
This will allow us to achieve something that is unprecedented – reducing our national GHG emissions while driving economic prosperity through resource development.
The proposed Utility Corridor route goes through many traditional First Nations territories. Instead of seeing this as a barrier, we see this as an opportunity.
These issues lead to high suicide rates, infant mortality, imprisonment and addiction on reserves.
With First Nations’ ownership and control, there will be significant opportunities for those living along the corridor route and beyond. As owners, we as First Nations would drive our own environmental goals, maximizing the project’s sustainability while generating income, jobs, and prosperity for First Nations.
The trading of goods has been in our DNA as Indigenous People for centuries, but somewhere along the way this was lost. It’s time to regain our prosperity, for the betterment of our communities and for our country. Overall NeeStaNan Utility Corridor reduces GHG emissions and bring more responsibly produced Canadian products to Canadians and World markets NeeStaNan Utility Corridor brings additional profits and taxes that will make bands self-sustaining The NeeStaNan Utility Corridor will improve Canada’s competitiveness in international markets resulting in local economic benefits.
A NeeStaNan team member is available to answer your questions. If you would like to setup an iLive Steaming Call with Chief and council or with the community please contact us below.