Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to designate the Prairie Economic Gateway as a project of national interest to accelerate its construction.

The designation, part of the federal government’s recently passed One Canadian Economy Act, formerly known as Bill C-5, would streamline approvals for major projects in response to U.S. tariffs. The law enables Ottawa to label large-scale infrastructure project as essential to the country and fast-track their development.

“Prairie Economic Gateway is shovel-ready, shovel-worthy and nationally significant, Gondek wrote in a letter to Carney, Energy Minister Tim Hodgson and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc,

The inland port, planned near Calgary’s southeastern edge in partnership with Rocky View County and Shepard Development Construction, would process goods arriving by ship before shipping them by rail or truck. It is expected to be serviced by Canadian Pacific Kansas City Southern (CPKC) rail lines and could generate over $7 billion in economic activity while creating up to 30,000 construction jobs. Both the city and county have approved the project.

“This is the type of project that Bill C-5 was written for,” said Gondek. “A project that strengthens Canada’s autonomy, turbo charges our economy, connect our internal markets, and open us up to new ones in the world.”

Calgary Liberal MP Corey Hogan is supporting the city’s cause. Hogan told CBC that he has spoken in favour of the project to Hodgson and LeBlanc.

“I think this is a pretty worthy project for consideration,” said Hogan.

“Calgary is a destination not just for people, but for goods. It’s also a waypoint for goods and it makes an awful lot of sense to consider this project in a really serious fashion.”

Gondek touted the project in a conversation with Carney during his visit to the Calgary Stampede in July and hopes to meet with him again soon, according to CBC.

The city previously indicated that it could invest in the Prairie Economic Gateway and incentivize industrial-land development.

Pictured: Future Prairie Economic Gateway project.

Rendering: City of Calgary

More later …

Photo: City of Calgary