With the recent announcement with closure of the Port of Churchill, the MP for the Churchill-Keewatinook Aski region says the decision is both shocking and unacceptable.

Omnitrax made the decision last week to close the only deepwater link to Canada's arctic waters and the railroad, which employs 10% of Churchill's population and will affect other northern communities including The Pas.

Ashton says that it's time for the Federal Government to work with First Nations, the province and Churchill to bring the port back under Canadian ownership.

The Port was sold to the US-based private ownership of Omnitrax back in 1997 during the Chretien government.

Some observers think this could be a strategy from Omnitrax to leverage financial support from the public sector. Ashton responded saying if that is the tactic, It's a sick one.

Cliff Cullen, the minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade for the Manitoba government says, they will look at partnering with community and business leaders to attract investment assist entrepreneurs and facilitate expansion to provide a stronger economic future for the region.