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By rdnewsNOW Staff

Prairie provinces collaborating on economic corridors

Jul 4, 2024 | 5:18 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 said Thursday.

The three provincial governments signed a memorandum of understanding 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.

Alberta’s transportation minister Devin Dreeshen said keeping the momentum going between the provinces will keep producing results.

“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,” Dreeshen said.

This paves the way to make nation-building projects a reality again in western Canada.”

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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.

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.

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 Alberta government has agreed to fund up to 50 per cent of the project costs.

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.