Calgary's mayor wants Prime Minister Mark Carney to designate proposed Prairie Economic Gateway as a project of national interest in order to get the industrial hub built faster. Jyoti Gondek says the project meets the qualifications for the designation, which was introduced as part of the Carney government's One Canadian Economy Act passed earlier this summer in the face of U.S. tariffs. Projects deemed of national interest will undergo a streamlined federal approval process in order to get fast-tracked. Gondek wrote a letter to the prime minister, as well as energy minister Tim Hodgson and intergovernmental affairs minister Dominic LeBlanc, asking them to consider the request. "Prairie Economic Gateway is shovel-ready, shovel-worthy and nationally significant," Gondek said in a news release Monday. The proposed project would be an expansive inland port, where goods arriving by ship could be sent for processing before being sent by rail or truck to other destinations, with the goal of strengthening supply chains. The collaboration with Rocky View County and private developer Shepard Development Construction is set to be located near Calgary's southeastern tip, and serviced by CPKC rail lines. Both Rocky View County and the City of Calgary have already signed off on the project. They estimate it will generate more than $7 billion in economic activity and create upwards of 30,000 jobs during the construction phase. Corey Hogan is Calgary's lone Liberal member of Parliament. He says he has not spoken with the prime minister yet about the project, but has been in touch with his colleagues, ministers Hodgson and LeBlanc. "I think this is a pretty worthy project for consideration," said Hogan. "Calgary is a destination not just for people, but for goods. It's also a waypoint for goods and it makes an awful lot of sense to consider this project in a really serious fashion." Gondek says she discussed the project with the prime minister during his visit to Calgary for the Stampede. She says she wants to meet with Carney again to discuss the project — either in person or virtually — as soon as he is able.

Calgary mayor calls for federal help in fast-tracking Prairie Economic Gateway project

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek has requested Prime Minister Mark Carney to designate the Prairie Economic Gateway project as a project of national interest to expedite its development. The proposed inland port, located near Calgary's southeastern tip and serviced by CPKC rail lines, aims to strengthen supply chains by enabling goods arriving by ship to be processed before being transported by rail or truck. The project, a collaboration between the City of Calgary, Rocky View County, and private developer Shepard Development Construction, is described as shovel-ready and nationally significant. It is estimated to generate over $7 billion in economic activity and create up to 30,000 jobs during construction. Gondek has written letters to Prime Minister Carney, Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, urging them to consider the request. Calgary's lone Liberal MP, Corey Hogan, supports the project's consideration and has communicated with ministers Hodgson and LeBlanc. Gondek also mentioned discussing the project with Carney during his Stampede visit and plans to meet again soon.