Alberta Premier Danielle Smith sent a letter to City of Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek to discuss expanding Calgary's CTrain network, including lines to the airport and a rail line to Banff.."This morning, I sent a letter to #YYC Mayor @JyotiGondek to discuss expanding Calgary's CTrain network to provide new service to the airport and also the creation of an additional regional rail line to Banff," Smith said Tuesday.."Calgary is a current, critical provincial hub for energy technology and financial excellence in Alberta and is a key focus of the Government of Alberta's work to grow and diversify our province's economy.".Smith said she believes people from all over the world continue to vote with their feet and are moving to Calgary where they can find a job and affordable homes, a higher quality of life, and the proximity to the province's breathtaking Mountain Parks..Smith said she was pleased to see the City of Calgary working to expand the CTrain network.."As this important work continues, I would like to work together to explore the option of expanding Calgary's LRT system to the Calgary International Airport," Smith said..Smith has instructed Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen to explore opportunities to work with the private sector to develop new rail links in Alberta..The rail link would connect the City of Calgary with Calgary International Airport, downtown, Canmore and Banff..Smith also instructed other ministers including Dreeshen to focus on job creation and strengthening Alberta’s economy in a new set of mandate letters..“Alberta’s economy has real momentum. More and more job creators are recognizing the benefits of doing business in our province and that leads to more jobs for Albertans looking for work," Smith said.."We have made real progress in diversifying our economy, and we want to see even more. By continuing that work, we will ensure that Alberta businesses, and all Albertans and their families, can prosper and benefit from Alberta’s strong economy.”.On Tuesday, letters sent to the ministers of Agriculture and Irrigation; Forestry, Parks and Tourism; Jobs, Economy and Northern Development; Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction; Technology and Innovation; Treasury Board and Finance; and Transportation and Economic Corridors outline actions Alberta’s government will take to create jobs and ensure the province’s economy will continue growing and diversifying..Key actions outlined in the letters include:.Continuing to diversify Alberta’s economy and attracting investment, including in the tourism sector, which will provide great job opportunities for Albertans.Building on our province’s competitive advantage in traditional industries and identifying ways to improve market access so that we continue to be a global supplier of energy and food.Advocating for Alberta's agriculture industry and working with partners to further modernize the sector and grow Alberta’s agri-food market.Exploring opportunities to work with the private sector and the City of Calgary on the construction of an LRT and rail link between Calgary International Airport, downtown Calgary and Canmore/Banff.Continuing to cut red tape so that Alberta businesses can focus on growing and Albertans face fewer hurdles when interacting with government..In February 2019, it was reported such a rail service was feasible and it would cost $660 million to build..A study — which was commissioned by the towns of Banff, Canmore and Cochrane, as well as the City of Calgary and Improvement District 9 — examined mass transit as a way to reduce vehicle congestion along the Bow Valley corridor and in the national park..READ MORE: Study launched on Calgary-to-Banff passenger rail service.The study said a passenger rail service could have eight round trips per day and transport between 220,000 and 620,000 passengers per year..The study said the train could make stops in downtown Calgary, adjacent to the planned Green Line CTrain stop at 9 Ave. S.E. and 4 St. S.W.; at Keith Yard, near the overpass of Stoney Trail N.W. along Bearspaw Dam Rd. N.W.; and in Cochrane, Canmore and Banff..“Alberta is the economic engine of Canada. This is a responsibility we take seriously," Smith said.."We are a senior partner in Confederation and some of our biggest contributions are to the economic growth and prosperity of the nation. The work I have tasked these ministers with is vital to ensuring Albertans and Canadians can look forward to a prosperous future.”.The mandate letters issued on Tuesday build on mandates already announced to address affordability and to stand up for Albertans against federal government overreach..A final set of letters will be issued this week, addressing premier Smith’s commitments to Albertans on health care and skilled labour.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith sent a letter to City of Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek to discuss expanding Calgary's CTrain network, including lines to the airport and a rail line to Banff.."This morning, I sent a letter to #YYC Mayor @JyotiGondek to discuss expanding Calgary's CTrain network to provide new service to the airport and also the creation of an additional regional rail line to Banff," Smith said Tuesday.."Calgary is a current, critical provincial hub for energy technology and financial excellence in Alberta and is a key focus of the Government of Alberta's work to grow and diversify our province's economy.".Smith said she believes people from all over the world continue to vote with their feet and are moving to Calgary where they can find a job and affordable homes, a higher quality of life, and the proximity to the province's breathtaking Mountain Parks..Smith said she was pleased to see the City of Calgary working to expand the CTrain network.."As this important work continues, I would like to work together to explore the option of expanding Calgary's LRT system to the Calgary International Airport," Smith said..Smith has instructed Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen to explore opportunities to work with the private sector to develop new rail links in Alberta..The rail link would connect the City of Calgary with Calgary International Airport, downtown, Canmore and Banff..Smith also instructed other ministers including Dreeshen to focus on job creation and strengthening Alberta’s economy in a new set of mandate letters..“Alberta’s economy has real momentum. More and more job creators are recognizing the benefits of doing business in our province and that leads to more jobs for Albertans looking for work," Smith said.."We have made real progress in diversifying our economy, and we want to see even more. By continuing that work, we will ensure that Alberta businesses, and all Albertans and their families, can prosper and benefit from Alberta’s strong economy.”.On Tuesday, letters sent to the ministers of Agriculture and Irrigation; Forestry, Parks and Tourism; Jobs, Economy and Northern Development; Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction; Technology and Innovation; Treasury Board and Finance; and Transportation and Economic Corridors outline actions Alberta’s government will take to create jobs and ensure the province’s economy will continue growing and diversifying..Key actions outlined in the letters include:.Continuing to diversify Alberta’s economy and attracting investment, including in the tourism sector, which will provide great job opportunities for Albertans.Building on our province’s competitive advantage in traditional industries and identifying ways to improve market access so that we continue to be a global supplier of energy and food.Advocating for Alberta's agriculture industry and working with partners to further modernize the sector and grow Alberta’s agri-food market.Exploring opportunities to work with the private sector and the City of Calgary on the construction of an LRT and rail link between Calgary International Airport, downtown Calgary and Canmore/Banff.Continuing to cut red tape so that Alberta businesses can focus on growing and Albertans face fewer hurdles when interacting with government..In February 2019, it was reported such a rail service was feasible and it would cost $660 million to build..A study — which was commissioned by the towns of Banff, Canmore and Cochrane, as well as the City of Calgary and Improvement District 9 — examined mass transit as a way to reduce vehicle congestion along the Bow Valley corridor and in the national park..READ MORE: Study launched on Calgary-to-Banff passenger rail service.The study said a passenger rail service could have eight round trips per day and transport between 220,000 and 620,000 passengers per year..The study said the train could make stops in downtown Calgary, adjacent to the planned Green Line CTrain stop at 9 Ave. S.E. and 4 St. S.W.; at Keith Yard, near the overpass of Stoney Trail N.W. along Bearspaw Dam Rd. N.W.; and in Cochrane, Canmore and Banff..“Alberta is the economic engine of Canada. This is a responsibility we take seriously," Smith said.."We are a senior partner in Confederation and some of our biggest contributions are to the economic growth and prosperity of the nation. The work I have tasked these ministers with is vital to ensuring Albertans and Canadians can look forward to a prosperous future.”.The mandate letters issued on Tuesday build on mandates already announced to address affordability and to stand up for Albertans against federal government overreach..A final set of letters will be issued this week, addressing premier Smith’s commitments to Albertans on health care and skilled labour.
