ALBERTA

As Minister of Alberta Transportation, I am pleased to have the opportunity to inform Western Canada Highway News readers about ongoing transportation projects in Alberta.

New West Partnership
In April, the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia signed the New West Partnership agreement, which effectively established the three provinces as a powerful, $550-billion free-trade zone.

New West is an economic partnership aimed at boosting international and interprovincial trade and transportation is one of the key components.

The three provinces have begun discussions to determine what program permit conditions and regulations can be better harmonized between our provinces to support motor carrier operations and facilitate trade.

Once we’ve determined negotiation protocols, including criteria for exemptions and a process for dispute resolution, we’ll proceed rapidly. Consultations with motor carriers in the three provinces will be vital to the success of this work.

To view this article in its entirety, go to page 6 of the Fall 2010 issue.
Click HERE to open the Media Rich pdf.

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Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan moves toward more efficient trucking, salutes industry
By the Hon. Jim Reiter, Minister of Highways and Infrastructure

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure salutes all professional drivers during National Trucking Week, as the province continues to work hard on various initiatives to make trucking safer and more efficient.

“As a land-locked province, Saskatchewan’s export-based economy depends on getting goods to regional, national and international markets as cost-effectively as possible,” Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter said.

“The trucking industry is a critical component of our supply chain and key to our province staying competitive. That’s why my Ministry is working very hard toward improving the flow of goods shipped by truck and cutting related red tape.”

Earlier this summer, provincial transportation ministers from Saskatchewan and Manitoba met in Brandon with shippers and stakeholders to explore various options about harmonizing trucking regulations and policies between the two jurisdictions. Officials from the two provinces are currently developing the next steps forward.

To view this article in its entirety, go to page 8 of the Fall 2010 issue.
Click HERE to open the Media Rich pdf.

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Manitoba

Introducing CentrePort Canada Way
By the Honourable Steve Ashton, Manitoba’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation

Long-time readers of the Western Canada Highway News will be familiar with an exciting initiative underway in Manitoba, the development of CentrePort Canada. For those unfamiliar with the initiative, CentrePort Canada is Manitoba’s inland port currently under development next to the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It will be Canada’s first inland port and a hub of transportation, distribution and related value-added activity, linked into and supporting larger global commerce and international trade patterns. CentrePort Canada Way will be the main access to this exciting long-term project.

Manitoba envisions CentrePort as a global transportation, trade, manufacturing, distribution, warehousing and logistics centre. The 20,000 acre rail, air, and trucking hub will take advantage of Manitoba’s linkages to the US and Mexico through PTH 75/US I-29, to eastern Canada, the west coast and beyond. Located in the midst of Canada’s east-west transportation systems, and at the junction between western Canada and links to the US hub of Chicago via the Mid-Continent Trade and Transportation Corridor, CentrePort Canada will make the most out of Manitoba’s many advantages, including low business, land and energy costs; a well-established, international trucking industry; a strong rail network; the leading all-cargo freight airport in Canada, and; an established and experienced transportation and distribution workforce.

The CentrePort Canada initiative promises to improve efficiency, provide economic opportunities for industry, and ensure a competitive advantage for Manitoba into the future. This is why I am so pleased to introduce CentrePort Canada Way, one of our first steps toward realizing the CentrePort Canada vision.

To view this article in its entirety, go to page 9 of the Fall 2010 issue.
Click HERE to open the Media Rich pdf.