by Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 23/98) - In the first trip of its kind, 32 Manitobans, among them government ministers, business people and mayors, came North last week looking to strengthen trade ties with the NWT.

The delegation travelled to Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Iqaluit and wrapped up in Yellowknife Thursday. Weather foiled a Baker Lake stop.

Churchill Mayor Michael Spence said their possible loss of port and rail services brought home the value of trade to the North.

"We were on the verge of losing our resupply linkage," he said.

But transportation links were preserved when CN sold the rail line and Ports Canada sold the Port of Churchill. Both were sold last year.

About $150 million in dry goods and fuel flows through the port of Churchill to the Keewatin each year.

"The re-supply of the Keewatin region remains important for the Manitoba economy," David Newman, the province's Northern Affairs minister, said.

Manitoba Rural Development Minister Len Derkach said "overall, the trade mission has been a positive experience."

A possible partnership could be supplying electrical power to some Northern communities, he said.

"We're looking at the feasibility of providing hydro to Whale Cove, Arviat and Rankin Inlet," Derkach said.

"I asked Minister Newman, the minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro, to begin a feasibility study three months ago."

Manitoba's commercial power rate is three cents a kilowatt hour while the domestic rate is about eight cents.

Derkach said the power study has been "fast-tracked."

For Randy Klym, vice-president of sales at Winnipeg-based Keewatin Air, the trade mission was a chance to further assess Northern needs.

Keewatin Air, a client of the GNWT, is an air-ambulance company which has served Northern communities for 25 years.

"Our primary function is transporting patients needing more advanced care," he said.

The trade mission was at the invitation of Premier Don Morin. Morin and Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon signed a memorandum of understanding in June 1996 to encourage further co-operation and development between the two governments.

Economic development is one of the GNWT's top priorities, and ventures like the trade mission, that bring potential investment, expertise, partnerships, and employment opportunities for Northerners are an excellent way of promoting the benefits of investing int he North, Morin said.