Alberta reaches MOU with Prairie provinces on trade corridors

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Alberta has signed a memorandum of understanding with its Prairie neighbors aimed toward creating financial corridors and pushing the federal authorities to hurry up approval for main tasks.

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The pact goals to align the event of essential infrastructure promote commerce and financial progress throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

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The announcement was mild on specifics, particularly when it got here to sure infrastructure, however that is not a foul factor, based on Kent Fellows, the director of the Northern Hall Program on the College of Calgary’s Faculty of Public Coverage.

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“I might say at this level, type of obscure is extra of a function than a bug,” he mentioned. “There are numerous particulars to work out on issues like this. But it surely’s actually promising to see that we now have these three jurisdictions which have signed a memorandum to work collectively on a method as a result of that is actually what we want.”

The chance for Calgary on this deal goes past constructing pipelines. It’s about all types of financial output from oil and gasoline to inexperienced power, trucking, rail, communications, and enterprise and expertise attraction.

The Canada West Basis partnered with the Enterprise Council of Canada, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Western Heavy Development and Highway Builders, and the Canadian Development Affiliation to convey the three provinces collectively.

‘Standing out like a sore thumb globally’: Points systemic in Canada

In line with the World Financial Discussion board Competitiveness Rating, Canada fell from the highest 10 in 2009 to thirty second in 2019 — earlier than the pandemic and earlier than rail blockades and truck convoys that choked the flexibility to maneuver merchandise.

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Carlo Dade, director of the Canada West Basis’s Heart for Commerce and Funding, mentioned the problems are systemic and require cooperation and collaboration throughout governments to deal with them.

“Canada is the one main trade-dependent nation that isn’t doing nationwide commerce infrastructure planning, and even regional planning that these ministers are speaking about working collectively,” he mentioned. “We stand out globally like an enormous sore thumb. And should you’re questioning why our rankings have dropped, it is not one flood, it is not one strike, it is not three unhealthy winters in a row – it is as a result of our prospects know that we do not do the long-term strategic planning and evaluation and everybody else does.”

Influence may be measured in billions of {dollars}: Dreeshen

Minister of Transportation and Financial Corridors, Devin Dreeshen, mentioned in a information convention Tuesday with Saskatchewan Highways Minister Jeremy Cockrill and Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk that it may be measured within the billions of {dollars}.

Canada depends on its capacity to export items throughout all sectors. In line with the province, Alberta exported greater than $138 billion price of products in 2021. That is extra essential to Canada than most different international locations, together with the US, as a result of Canada’s land mass and sparse inhabitants.

The settlement builds on the New West Partnership commerce settlement signed in 2010 between all 4 western provinces, which got here out of the Commerce, Funding and Labor Mobility Settlement.

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Corridors inside Alberta should additionally handle: Legge

Adam Legge, president of the Enterprise Council of Alberta, mentioned the province additionally wants to deal with the corridors inside its personal borders, together with connecting Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Crimson Deer, Calgary and Lethbridge.

“These sorts of partnerships and MOUs will assist us quite a bit to compete at scale,” he mentioned.

One of many greatest points to be addressed is a harmonization in lots of rules for required certifications and requirements. For instance, the standardization of trucking rules and driver necessities throughout all provinces at present varies extensively.

MOU necessary for creating ties, rising competitiveness

Patrick Mattern, senior enterprise advisor at Calgary Financial Growth, mentioned it will likely be necessary to create ties with different jurisdictions reminiscent of Montana and BC via additional motion in power and transportation.

It should additionally assist push for the continued enchancment of expertise infrastructure and information connectivity, and can make Calgary extra aggressive. He mentioned Calgary is ideally positioned as a conduit with cross-country highways, the Calgary Worldwide Airport and Canadian Pacific’s accomplished acquisition of Kansas Metropolis Southern railroad, enhancing connectivity to Mexico.

“Something that performs extra infrastructure, extra transportation, I feel Calgary itself is ideally positioned to make the most of,” he mentioned.

jaldrich@postmedia.com

Twitter: @JoshAldrich03