We recognize the value of that northern port. It's a deepwater port. It certainly fits in with our northern strategy. As the mining sector develops, there is going to be diversification of usage for that.
I've seen media coverage of Mike Spence, the mayor of Churchill, who has talked about the tremendous potential of Churchill. We agree with him. That's why, in this piece of legislation, we are coming forward with $5 million per year over the next five years for a $25-million pot in total that will provide incentives for other commodities, not just the Wheat Board commodities. Last year there were two boats loaded with pulses that moved out through Churchill.
So we know the opportunity is there. They have some concerns, and there are some criticisms of the rail line. It needs some work. Certainly, there is a lot of work to be done to make it a world-class facility, but the beginnings are there. The stabilization is there. We want to make sure that we have the incentives in place. As I have said, we've gone beyond the Wheat Board crops to provide incentives for others to take a look at that and make sure they have the ability to move those commodities up and to make use of Churchill for certain aspects.
A couple of years ago, we allocated $38 million in one of our budgets, $14 million of which went to the airport—which is now open and shiny new—and the rest to the port. We haven't spent a lot of that yet; we're waiting to see exactly what they're going to do with it. We'll extend those deadlines. We'll make sure they will have the ability to build more capacity, if that is what it's going to take, to make them a pull port rather than a push port, and to make use of that rail in the winter. We'll certainly work with them every step of the way. We have continued that incentive to make sure they still have the ability to draw grain up through there.