Policy, Provincial

Dear Minister Dreeshen:

On behalf of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, I am pleased to extend our full support for your call to action regarding economic corridors and trade-enabling infrastructure in Canada. The Edmonton Chamber applauds your leadership in advocating for strategic investment in interprovincial mega-infrastructure projects that will enhance our nation’s competitiveness and economic prosperity.

Canada’s economic success has long been tied to its ability to build and maintain vital infrastructure that facilitates trade and commerce. Historic projects such as the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Trans-Canada Highway were instrumental in uniting our country and fostering economic growth. Today, we face a similar need for modern, resilient, and efficient trade corridors that strengthen our east-west connectivity and reduce dependence on north-south trade.

We recognize Alberta’s proactive steps, including agreements with Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories to develop joint trade infrastructure networks. These initiatives demonstrate a strong commitment to reducing regulatory barriers, attracting investment, and fostering meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities. However, as you have rightly pointed out, provinces and territories cannot achieve this alone. A strong, coordinated federal effort is essential.

The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce strongly supports your call for a federal, provincial, territorial working group to develop a unified strategy for mitigating trade-related challenges and advancing economic corridors. Additionally, we echo your recommendations for the federal government to take the following actions:

• Create an Economic Corridor Agency to identify and maintain interprovincial economic corridors in consultation with Indigenous groups and industry stakeholders.
• Increase federal funding for trade-enabling infrastructure, including roads, rail, ports, in-land ports, and airports.
• Streamline regulatory frameworks that impact trade-related infrastructure, including amendments to the Impact Assessment Act, to reduce delays and uncertainty for major projects.
• Enhance federal policies that support productivity and competitiveness, particularly in regions where infrastructure development is critical to economic growth, and in repealing legislation that discourages business attraction and investment in our country, such as Bill C-59 and the recent increase to capital gains tax inclusion rates.

These measures are crucial to ensuring Canada remains a global leader in trade and innovation. Without timely and decisive federal action, our country risks falling behind in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce urges the federal government to take immediate steps to address these challenges and partner with provinces and territories in advancing the economic corridors that will drive Canada’s future prosperity.

Minister Dreeshen, we commend your dedication to championing this cause and reaffirm our commitment to working alongside you. I would welcome a meeting with your office to discuss ways that the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce can work in partnership with your ministry to foster a robust, efficient, and globally competitive trade infrastructure network that benefits businesses and communities across Alberta and Canada

Sincerely,

Doug Griffiths
President and Chief Executive Officer
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

cc:
Bruce Stewart, Deputy Minister, Transportation and Economic Corridors
Shane Getson, Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Corridors
Josh Bilyk, Chief of Staff to Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors
Heather Thompson, Vice-President, Economy and Engagement
Christopher Martin, Director of Policy & Government Relations