Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made a stop in Calgary on Friday to address Calgary’s Chamber of Commerce and told them the city will get the respect it deserves for the provincial government.."This great city is one of the most powerful drivers of Alberta’s economy. It accounts for about a third of the province’s GDP," Smith said in her speech..Smith claimed Calgary is well on the way to becoming one of Canada’s high-tech, financial, and energy hubs, as more companies from around the world set up headquarters and branches.."People are voting with their feet, too, moving here for good jobs, mountain views, affordable homes, and a high quality of life. And Calgary will get the care, attention, and respect it deserves from this government, so it can grow safely and efficiently," Smith said..Smith then reintroduced herself to the chamber and told them "You punch above your weight. You have your fingers on the pulse of everything that happens in Calgary’s business community.".Recently, 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..READ MORE: Smith discusses expanding Calgary's -Train network to airport, rail line to Banff.Smith said she was pleased to see the City of Calgary working to expand the CTrain network. She also took to social media recently to say Calgary needs a new world event centre and arena..READ MORE: Smith offers provincial help to get Calgary entertainment centre going."I want to ensure we can reset the relationship between our government and our municipal leaders, because we're all serving the same people. And we’re all dealing with the same concerns and the same challenges," Smith told the chamber.."And that's why I appointed Rebecca Schulz, our MLA for Calgary Shaw, as minister of municipal affairs to improve that relationship of mutual respect and cooperation to better serve Albertans.".Smith then mentioned world supply chain disruptions, global increases in interest rates and the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She also talked about how the Liberal federal government that let spending, debt and inflation run out of control.."That’s why I asked Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Sonya Savage, MLA for Calgary North-West, to lead an Alberta delegation to the COP27 conference in Egypt to ensure people over there understand the steps we're taking to develop our industry in an environmentally sustainable and responsible manner," Smith said.."We want Albertans to have control over their own destinies. And while I wish the global situation was more secure and stable. And that’s the core of our whole approach.."I got back into politics to make things better," Smith said.."Now, when it comes to fixing things, when it comes to making things better. There are no shortcuts. No real mystery. No real magic. The formula is simple. It requires a good team. And it requires a good plan. And, last month I was pleased to announce my team. Alberta’s team. To tackle this new challenge.".Smith vowed Calgary will not be forgotten about by the provincial government and mentioned projects in the area.."We will also see the final stages of the construction of the Calgary Ring Road through completion. Over 90% of the project has been finished. Only 11-km are left to go, with the west being the last segment. And in autumn 2024, Calgarians will finally get the ring road they have been waiting for, making trips safer and faster and providing a boost to businesses across southern Alberta," Smith said..Smith said Deerfoot trail is Alberta’s busiest road, with about 180,000 vehicles per day..As the city grows, traffic will grow with it, leading to longer travel times and delays for business. And I would also like to announce today that the government of Alberta is moving ahead with major improvements to Deerfoot trail that will ease congestion for passengers and spur economic growth in the region," Smith said.."It will target key bottleneck areas between Glenmore Trail and Anderson Road/Bow Bottom Trail where congestion is a problem. We will solve this through improvements including multiple interchanges with extra lanes and seven new bridges.".Smith said Alberta's government hopes contracts will be in place and work underway next spring..The Deerfoot Trail expansion project will include:.Improving the Bow Bottom Trail and Anderson Road, Southland Drive and Glenmore Trail interchanges.Seven new bridge structures at Anderson Road and Bow Bottom Trail, Bow River, Southland Drive and Glenmore Trail.Adding more lanes to Deerfoot Trail along the highway and through the Anderson Road/Bow Bottom Trails and Glenmore Trail Interchanges..Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors has amended its existing public-private partnership procurement process to address critical improvements for this expansion. The process will continue with pre-qualified teams with the intention that the successful proponent will be selected and the contract will be awarded in spring 2023..Construction is expected to begin in 2023 and be completed in 2027..Improvements to this section of Deerfoot Trail will enhance safety and, when completed, is expected to reduce driver commutes. In total, the upgrades mean travellers will save about 900,000 hours a year, which will provide an annual economic boost of about $23 million."When completed, Calgarians and businesses using the Deerfoot will end up with safer travel and commutes that will be shortened between 15% and 20%," Smith said.."These significant transportation projects will have real impacts on the lives of Calgarians and their families.".Deerfoot Trail is a major north-south freeway in Calgary that handles 180,000 vehicles per day.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made a stop in Calgary on Friday to address Calgary’s Chamber of Commerce and told them the city will get the respect it deserves for the provincial government.."This great city is one of the most powerful drivers of Alberta’s economy. It accounts for about a third of the province’s GDP," Smith said in her speech..Smith claimed Calgary is well on the way to becoming one of Canada’s high-tech, financial, and energy hubs, as more companies from around the world set up headquarters and branches.."People are voting with their feet, too, moving here for good jobs, mountain views, affordable homes, and a high quality of life. And Calgary will get the care, attention, and respect it deserves from this government, so it can grow safely and efficiently," Smith said..Smith then reintroduced herself to the chamber and told them "You punch above your weight. You have your fingers on the pulse of everything that happens in Calgary’s business community.".Recently, 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..READ MORE: Smith discusses expanding Calgary's -Train network to airport, rail line to Banff.Smith said she was pleased to see the City of Calgary working to expand the CTrain network. She also took to social media recently to say Calgary needs a new world event centre and arena..READ MORE: Smith offers provincial help to get Calgary entertainment centre going."I want to ensure we can reset the relationship between our government and our municipal leaders, because we're all serving the same people. And we’re all dealing with the same concerns and the same challenges," Smith told the chamber.."And that's why I appointed Rebecca Schulz, our MLA for Calgary Shaw, as minister of municipal affairs to improve that relationship of mutual respect and cooperation to better serve Albertans.".Smith then mentioned world supply chain disruptions, global increases in interest rates and the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She also talked about how the Liberal federal government that let spending, debt and inflation run out of control.."That’s why I asked Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Sonya Savage, MLA for Calgary North-West, to lead an Alberta delegation to the COP27 conference in Egypt to ensure people over there understand the steps we're taking to develop our industry in an environmentally sustainable and responsible manner," Smith said.."We want Albertans to have control over their own destinies. And while I wish the global situation was more secure and stable. And that’s the core of our whole approach.."I got back into politics to make things better," Smith said.."Now, when it comes to fixing things, when it comes to making things better. There are no shortcuts. No real mystery. No real magic. The formula is simple. It requires a good team. And it requires a good plan. And, last month I was pleased to announce my team. Alberta’s team. To tackle this new challenge.".Smith vowed Calgary will not be forgotten about by the provincial government and mentioned projects in the area.."We will also see the final stages of the construction of the Calgary Ring Road through completion. Over 90% of the project has been finished. Only 11-km are left to go, with the west being the last segment. And in autumn 2024, Calgarians will finally get the ring road they have been waiting for, making trips safer and faster and providing a boost to businesses across southern Alberta," Smith said..Smith said Deerfoot trail is Alberta’s busiest road, with about 180,000 vehicles per day..As the city grows, traffic will grow with it, leading to longer travel times and delays for business. And I would also like to announce today that the government of Alberta is moving ahead with major improvements to Deerfoot trail that will ease congestion for passengers and spur economic growth in the region," Smith said.."It will target key bottleneck areas between Glenmore Trail and Anderson Road/Bow Bottom Trail where congestion is a problem. We will solve this through improvements including multiple interchanges with extra lanes and seven new bridges.".Smith said Alberta's government hopes contracts will be in place and work underway next spring..The Deerfoot Trail expansion project will include:.Improving the Bow Bottom Trail and Anderson Road, Southland Drive and Glenmore Trail interchanges.Seven new bridge structures at Anderson Road and Bow Bottom Trail, Bow River, Southland Drive and Glenmore Trail.Adding more lanes to Deerfoot Trail along the highway and through the Anderson Road/Bow Bottom Trails and Glenmore Trail Interchanges..Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors has amended its existing public-private partnership procurement process to address critical improvements for this expansion. The process will continue with pre-qualified teams with the intention that the successful proponent will be selected and the contract will be awarded in spring 2023..Construction is expected to begin in 2023 and be completed in 2027..Improvements to this section of Deerfoot Trail will enhance safety and, when completed, is expected to reduce driver commutes. In total, the upgrades mean travellers will save about 900,000 hours a year, which will provide an annual economic boost of about $23 million."When completed, Calgarians and businesses using the Deerfoot will end up with safer travel and commutes that will be shortened between 15% and 20%," Smith said.."These significant transportation projects will have real impacts on the lives of Calgarians and their families.".Deerfoot Trail is a major north-south freeway in Calgary that handles 180,000 vehicles per day.
