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By rdnewsNOW Staff

ALTA., SASK., AND M.B.

Prairie provinces collaborating on economic corridors

Jul 4, 2024 | 4:10 PM

Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have reached a year of collaboration on economic corridors, and will continue to do so with a focus on enhancing strategic infrastructure to better trade and transportation between the three provinces and the rest of the world, officials say.

The three provincial governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to achieve these goals on April 11, 2023. To date, officials say they have harmonized regulations on commercial carriers in an effort to improve safety and regulatory requirements.

“By keeping the momentum of the Prairies MOU going, we can continue to lead the way in building economic corridors, cutting red tape, and creating jobs. This paves the way to make nation-building projects a reality again in western Canada,” says Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen.

One project in the works is a Northern Trade Corridor to connect the areas to the tidewater at Hudson Bay. For Alberta, this includes an extension of Highway 686 between Peerless Lake and Fort McMurray to connect northern communities in the province.

Officials note there are also plans to add a new highway connection between Fort McMurray and La Loche, Sask. This project is expected to include the construction of 68 kilometres of new highway in Alberta to connect to Highway 956 in Saskatchewan.

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Government officials say this project is intended to open up a new east-west economic corridor and increase capacity for the movement of energy products, heavy equipment, and the delivery of goods and services to communities in the region. Officials say it should also create a secondary exit-route from northeast Alberta in the event of an emergency, and improve access to tourism and recreation opportunities.

“For Saskatchewan people, improving transportation efficiency with initiatives like these supports our strong and growing export-based economy. A strategic approach helps the province invest in key services and helps build and protect our quality of life,” says Lori Carr, Saskatchewan minister of highways.

Alberta and Saskatchewan are also partnering to bring improvements to Highway 17 along the border of the two provinces. Improvements are expected to be completed at various locations between Lloydminster and north of the North Saskatchewan River Bridge in Alberta, including two sets of passing lanes, a climbing lane extension, and major improvements at four intersections, say officials. The Government of Alberta has agreed to fund up to 50 per cent of the project costs.

“Our city on the Alberta-Saskatchewan border works with many communities in both provinces to better position the region for growth and to enhance the services for all the people we all have the privilege of serving,” says Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers. “It’s wonderful to see the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan working toward a common goal to enhance Highway 17 in the future, which will improve transportation in the area when the project is completed.”

Other ongoing work under the MOU includes joint advocacy to the federal government to encourage adequate, timely and accessible federal funding that enables programs, such as the National Trade Corridors Fund, to continue supporting the infrastructure that businesses and residents rely on.

Alta., Sask., and M.B. will also work together on coordinated advocacy in support of maintaining and enhancing air service in all three regions. Government officials say the prairie provinces will continue to call for enhanced representation on the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority Board of Directors to ensure the needs of the three provinces are reflected in the policy and operational decisions at the Port of Vancouver, which is a key hub for prairie imports and exports, say officials.

Future proposed work under the agreement includes each province working with their trucking associations to identify additional opportunities for regulatory harmonization. As well, the provinces are said to be conducting joint research to improve all forms of transportation infrastructure that provide vital links to services and markets for more efficient movement of prairie exports and imports.