8 December 2007
Freight Terminal Will Carry City's Economy
Gerry Ritz, minister of agriculture and agri-food,
speaks during a news conference
on Friday announcing the building of a new Canadian Pacific intermodal facility
west of Regina,
near the airport.
Regina Saskatchewan - The federal government will put up
to $27 million toward a major infrastructure project proposed for Regina, one that's expected to see a new Canadian Pacific intermodal
facility built west of the city.
"This project will create jobs in Regina and drive the local economy," federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said Friday at
the Regina International Airport.
"It's going to mean Saskatchewan products, from potash to canola, will be transported to markets around the world more quickly and
efficiently." The Regina region intermodal project - pegged at a cost of $93 million - also includes "significant"
upgrades to Pinkie Road, connecting to the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 11 for access to the facility, Ritz said,
making the announcement Friday on behalf of Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon.
The $27 million from the federal government is conditional on the project getting final approvals, and is part of Ottawa's $33 billion
"Building Canada" infrastructure plan.
The provincial government, the City of Regina, and Canadian Pacific - which said its facility could take $40 to $50 million to build -
are working out details for the rest of the funding.
"We're anxious to see this project go ahead," said provincial Highways and Infrastructure Minister Wayne Elhard. "We
will make a financial contribution but the details of that amount remain to be decided." However, Elhard said the province's money
will play a role in areas such as building or improving access roads rather than go directly to the Canadian Pacific facility.
"We're not investing in their facility, but we're going to make sure that all the infrastructure necessary to support the success
of that facility is going to be in place," Elhard said.
Continued from Page A1 Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco said he hopes construction can begin as soon as the fall of 2008 and be completed in
about four years. He said it's just the first major step in a project that could ultimately see other players locate at a
"multi-modal" facility, where cargo is moved between different types of transportation.
"We cannot get things moving, we cannot meet CP's needs in regards to the container yards unless we have the basic infrastructure
in place," Fiacco said, pointing to the improvements such as the Pinkie Road expansion.
The new intermodal facility for Canadian Pacific west of the city would replace the current yards in downtown Regina, which are said to
be nearing capacity.
"It's prime real estate and it's going to provide a huge opportunity for everyone that's living in Regina," Fiacco said, when
asked about the future of that space located off Dewdney Avenue.
Consultation will be required before a decision is made, he said, noting that will be part of a future phase.
Jim Buggs, Canadian Pacific general manager for the port and gateway strategy, said the company is "fully committed" to
making the project happen.
Moving the current facility from its current "landlocked" location downtown and creating an expanded one will also help draw
business partners who rely on transportation as part of their business, he said.
"A large, modern state-of-the-art railway facility will be a driver of economic benefits to the surrounding
communities not only of Regina and Moose Jaw but all of southern Saskatchewan," Buggs said.
NDP MLA Deb Higgins said the project, which was in the works prior to the provincial election, has "great potential," but she
questioned the lack of details in the announcement regarding funding and the location and why the decision was made without those
questions answered.
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