National corridor grants shun Alberta government
Province's nine proposals to program have failed to yield any federal funding
A federal program designed to improve the flow of goods and people in Canada has shown no love for nine proposals submitted by the Alberta government.
The National Trade Corridors Fund has declined to put money toward the province's list of proposed highways projects. Unless it is renewed or replenished in Tuesday's federal budget, the framework wraps up in just under four years. Eight proposal calls are closed.
“We're currently zero for nine,” said Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen, the member for Innisfail-sylvan Lake.
Ottawa's commitment to roads and highways were hot topics for the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety on February 23.
About two weeks before the council's gathering in Montreal, federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said the government would no longer put money toward building new road infrastructure. What exists, he declared at the time, is “perfectly adequate” to meet needs.
Guilbeault later walked back the statement to clarify that he was referring only to large projects.
Guilbeault's statements “created a firestorm of questions and expectations right off the bat,” Dreeshen said. “It was a pretty interesting start to the meetings.”
It's unrealistic and unfair for the federal government to abandon highways in the name of battling climate change, he said. Ottawa has a constitutional obligation to fund First Nations roads, and the National Trade Corridors Fund demonstrates a commitment that ministers thought would continue.
Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez's office declined to provide details on Tuesday's budget or answer questions about reasons behind the Alberta government's lack of success.
At the meeting of ministers, Rodriquez “acknowledged the need for more infrastructure and discussed the importance of the National Trade Corridors Fund, which helps fund projects in Canada that include work to airports, ports, railways, transportation facilities and access roads,” Laura Scaffidi, his office's communications director, said in an email response.
“Our government will work with all provinces and territories to build resilient infrastructure and supply chains across the country, so Canadians can access the goods they need, when they need them, at affordable prices.”
The existing program is worth $4.6 billion over 11 years. Commitments worth $3.7 billion have been made to 130 marine, air, rail and road projects across the country, the latest information on the federal website says.
The Alberta government's nine applications add up to $685 million in requests. But since 2022, the province has heard nothing, a ministry spokesperson said.
Among Alberta's list are two Highway 3 projects in southern Alberta — twinning from Sentinel to east of Highway 507, including the Coleman bypass, and twinning west of Seven Persons to Highway 523 at Medicine Hat.
North of Calgary, an upgrade of the QE II at the Balzac interchange has also been denied. Other proposed projects near Edmonton and in northern and central Alberta have also failed to receive funding.
The fund was designed to increase the flow of goods, people and trade, help Canada's transportation system withstand the effects of climate change and adapt to new technologies and innovation, and address transportation needs in northern communities.
Among approved projects are $39.8 million to the City of Edmonton for a street widening and railway crossing separation project, and $50 million to the City of Calgary for road infrastructure near the airport.
Scaffidi noted the fund has earmarked dollars for 12 projects in Alberta. She also shared information from two past federal budgets announcing top-ups to the national fund.
Budget 2021 added $1.9 billion over four years, and Budget 2022 added $450 million over five years, along with funding to advance an industry-driven initiative on the digitization of Canada's supply chain.