Calgary, Rocky View County sign on to agreement for creation of ‘historic’ inland port

The City of Calgary and Rocky View County have finalized an agreement for an inland port they say will generate $7 billion in economic activity.

Dubbed the Prairie Economic Gateway agreement, the arrangement would see the construction of an inland port adjacent to Calgary’s eastern limits, leveraging the area’s existing Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) rail network.

The aim of the project is to enable better interprovincial trade and access to global markets while unlocking new opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, processing, and distribution.

The parties claim Prairie Economic Gateway will enhance trade resilience in the region and mitigate economic disruptions by improving supply chain efficiency and reducing reliance on seaports.

Called “historic” by those involved, the agreement is expected to create more than 30,000 area jobs in the next 10 to 12 years.

“Three years ago, I envisioned a bold new future for Calgary, where our city could be home to the strongest inland port in North America,” Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said Tuesday. “Today, I am proud to say we are turning that vision into reality. Prairie Economic Gateway is not just a project. It is a promise of prosperity, productivity and opportunity that will transform our region for future generations.”

The municipalities have been working on finalizing this plan for nearly two years.

“The Prairie Economic Gateway is a leading example of what can be achieved when municipalities work together to unlock the industry’s potential to create jobs and generate prosperity,” Rocky View County Reeve Crystal Kissel said. “In collaboration with the City of Calgary, this partnership focuses on removing impediments to growth by coordinating infrastructure development, expanding markets and diversifying the regional economy.”

Approving the agreement allows Calgary and Rocky View County to take steps to secure funding from other orders of government and the private sector.

Next steps for the project following this approval include infrastructure, planning, public and private sector investment attraction, and land-use amendments.