By Leah Murray

City supports business case for Wild Horse border crossing

Aug 22, 2017 | 4:48 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — City council voted in favour of a recommendation to support a business case for service improvements at the Port of Wild Horse border crossing.

The Palliser Economic Partnership (PEP) is requesting all 22 of its member municipalities pass a resolution demonstrating their support of the changes.

“We feel like we can get a better read from the provincial and federal government if we can show them the potential instead of just what’s happening right now,” explained Celina Symmonds, city councillor and PEP committee member.

The business case is recommending several improvements including extending the hours of operation to 13 hours a day for 365 days a year.

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It also asks the federal government to install an Electronic Data Interchange Equipment System to bring the Canadian side up to speed with the American side.

By doing these things, PEP suggests there could be billions in economic spin off for eastern Alberta, and especially the southeast areas like Medicine Hat.

“When you look at tourism and you look at industry having that border crossing would make a big difference here in this community,” said Symmonds. “We’re looking at billions of dollars of impact for both Havre and Medicine Hat.”

The report suggests extended hours would encourage more truck traffic and reduce mileage costs for shipping. It would also alleviate some of the congestion at other crossings like Coutts/Sweetgrass.

The City of Medicine Hat will be forwarding a letter of support for the report, to its provincial and federal counterparts for consideration.

Symmonds said they hope to see all the participating municipalities back the business case.