Alaska rail line touted as access to tidewater

Electric line from Fort McMurray to Alaska could move commodities: CEO

Proponents of a bold plan to build an electric railway line from Fort McMurray, Alta., to Alaska are wondering why, as the Trans Mountain expansion dispute balloons to saga-like proportions, governments aren’t jumping aboard.

“It’s frustrating,” says Matt Vickers CEO of G7G, whose company has been working on the project for eight years.

“It shocks me why politicians aren’t all over this.”

The rail line would be purposebuilt to carry oil, potash, grain and lumber from Fort McMurray through northern British Columbia and Yukon to Delta Junction, Alaska. The railway would be powered by renewables and have built-in safety stops to avoid tragedies like what happened in the Quebec town of Lac-Mégantic.

It took Vickers three years, but he secured approval from all the First Nations along the proposed route as well as a resolution of support from the National Assembly of First Nations.

Earlier this month, he travelled to London, England, to meet with an investor who agreed to backstop the $27-billion project (if the federal government gets on board with a non-sovereign guarantee).

Talking to Vickers, it’s evident the G7G link is something of a passion for the British Columbian.

He sounds like the Alberta government when it talks about the Trans Mountain expansion project — confident his project will be built, despite the current lack of movement.

Before the end of the month, he expects the chiefs of the 25 First Nations along the line to announce they’ve secured funding. “It’s going to get done,” he said. Vickers sees a lack of firm political support as the biggest roadblock.

That’s particularly true in B.C., where ministers don’t even seem to want to talk about the project.

“We’re not against pipelines — we’re against supertankers on the coast of B.C.” he said.

“If you’re against them, provide an alternative. We’re the only alternative there is.”

Alberta Trade and Economic Development Minister Deron Bilous met with Vickers in February.

The Trans Mountain hoopla might be the No. 1 issue in the news right now, but Bilous said that doesn’t mean it’s the only project the government is working on to get Alberta products to market.

“We’re working simultaneously on a number of different fronts for market access, so we’re not putting all our eggs in one basket,” Bilous said.

Bilous said the provincial government is awaiting more information about G7G, but is in favour of the concept.

Vickers wants governments to “bite the bullet and take a chance.”

“I’m shocked they haven’t moved faster,” he said.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to have a backup plan?”

We’re working simultaneously on a number of different fronts for market access, so we’re not putting all our eggs in one basket.