National Corridor grants are still being waived by the Alberta government

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A federal program designed to improve the flow of goods and people across Canada has said it doesn't like nine proposals from the Alberta government.

The National Trade Corridor Fund has declined to commit money to the province's list of proposed highway projects. Unless it is renewed or supplemented in Tuesday's federal budget, the framework will expire in less than four years. Eight bid calls were closed.

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“Right now we're zero to nine,” said Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Drieschen, member for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake.

Ottawa's commitment to roads and highways was a hot topic at the Feb. 23 meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers responsible for Transportation and Road Safety.

Two weeks before the council meeting in Montreal, federal Environment Minister Stephen Guilbeau said the government would no longer allocate money to build new road infrastructure. All that is there, he said, is “quite adequate” to meet the needs.

Guilbault later retracted the statement to clarify that he was only referring to major projects.

Guilbeau's statements “stoked a firestorm of questions and expectations,” Drieschen said. “These meetings are off to a very interesting start.”

It's unrealistic and unfair for the federal government to give up highways to fight climate change, he said. Ottawa has a constitutional obligation to fund First Nations roads, and the National Trade Corridors Fund reflects that commitment that ministers hope will continue.

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Federal Transportation Minister Pablo Rodriguez's office declined to provide details on Tuesday's budget or respond to questions about the Alberta government's lack of success.

At the ministerial meeting, Rodriguez “recognized the need for more infrastructure and discussed the importance of the National Trade Corridors Fund, which helps finance projects across Canada that include airports, ports, rail, transportation and access road work,” said Laura Scaffidi. , his office's communications director said in an email response.

“Our government is working with all provinces and territories to build sustainable infrastructure and supply chains across the country so Canadians can get the goods they need, when they need them, at affordable prices,” Scaffidi said.

The current program is $4.6 billion over 11 years. According to the latest information on the federal website, commitments totaling $3.7 billion have been made for 130 marine, air, rail and road projects across the country.

The Alberta government's nine applications request up to $685 million. But the province has heard nothing since 2022, a ministry spokesman said.

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Alberta's list includes two Highway 3 projects in southern Alberta – from Sentinel to Highway 507 east, including the Coleman Bypass, and from Seven People to Highway 523 west of Medicine Hat dualling.

A QE II upgrade north of Calgary at Balzac Crossing has also been ruled out. Other proposed projects near Edmonton and in northern and central Alberta also failed to receive funding.

The fund is designed to increase the flow of goods, people and trade, help Canada's transportation system withstand the impacts of climate change and adapt to new technologies and innovations, and address the transportation needs of northern communities.

Among the projects approved were $39.8 million for the City of Edmonton for a street widening and grade crossing project and $50 million for the City of Calgary for road infrastructure near the airport.

Scaffidi noted that the foundation has allocated dollars to 12 projects in Alberta. He also shared information about two previous federal budgets that announced additions to the national fund.

Budget 2021 added $1.9 billion over four years, and Budget 2022 $450 million over five years, as well as funding to advance an industry initiative to digitize Canada's supply chain.

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