The Calgary Construction Association is calling on the Alberta Government to get back on board with the long-awaited Green Line light rapid-transit project.

In a news release, the CCA said it is “dismayed” by the province’s decision to pull $1.5-billion in funding from the future C-Train network expansion project. The Green Line is designed to connect the city’s southeast quadrant with the downtown core and points north and west.

“Our industry needs certainty and stability,” said Bill Black, president and CEO of the CCCA, in a news release. “We call on the province to recognize the importance of the Green Line not only for Calgary’s future, but also for the thousands of workers who rely on projects like this for their livelihoods. The longer we delay, the greater the cost to our economy and our community.”

The CCA also contends that the government’s decision to “unilaterally to claw back” its funding “sets a concerning precedent” for all future infrastructure projects across Alberta.

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek is now suggesting that the province should take over the Green Line project and be responsible for completing it, because the city can no longer afford the cost. City council has voted to direct staff to provide options by September 17 on how to wind down the project and turn it over to the provincial government.

As a result, announced and potential commercial real estate investments have been caught in the political crossfire.

“This move sends a clear signal that no project, regardless of its scope or significance, is safe from unexpected funding cuts,” said the CCA in the news release. “The resulting uncertainty introduces a huge element of risk for contractors and businesses involved in provincial projects, undermining confidence in the stability and reliability of government commitments.”

If the trend continues, the CCA added, it could jeopardize future investments, delay critical infrastructure developments, and hinder economic recovery efforts.

The province pulled the funding after Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen reiterated the government’s support for the $6.2-billion project in an interview with CBC on August 1.

“This is a devastating blow to our industry and to the city as a whole,” said Black. “The Green Line LRT is not just a transit project; it is an economic lifeline that our industry has been counting on. The delays caused by the funding pull threaten to stall progress, erode confidence, and result in missed opportunities for local businesses and workers.”

Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party has objected to the city’s decision to reduce the Green Line’s station total to seven from 13 but increase the budget by $700 million to $6.2 billion from $5.5 billion. The federal government has expressed surprise with the province’s decision.

“Calgary continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, and Calgarians need safe and comprehensive access to a transit network and associated connectivity,” said Black. “We cannot afford to lose any further momentum on the Green Line.

“It is essential that we come together to ensure that this project, which holds so much promise for our city, is completed without further delay.”

In thinly veiled politicking, Smith and Dreeshen have accused Calgary’s former mayor Naheed Nenshi of failing to manage the project during his time in office. Nenshi is now the leader of the Alberta NDP, the Official Opposition in the Alberta Legislature.

He has volleyed back at the UCP government in a written statement and comments to reporters, contending that the province has put development projects and jobs in jeopardy.

Rendering: City of Calgary