Company behind proposed Calgary Banff rail link asks province to kick in
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Wednesday his government sees potential merit in a proposed $1.5-billion passenger rail link that would connect Banff, to the Calgary International Airport, but added he's not ready to commit to a request for provincial funding for the project.
"We are not at any point ready to commit money to this,'' Kenney told reporters, the same day the company behind the project announced it has submitted an updated proposal to the province as well as to the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
We have to give this very close rigour and that's the stage that we're at right now.``
The proposal from Liricon Capital Ltd. and its newly named investment partner Plenary Americas, a portfolio company of Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), would see the rail line constructed as a public-private partnership.
Liricon, which owns the Mount Norquay ski resort in Banff, also holds a long-term lease for the Banff train station. The company has been working for years to develop a multi-modal tourism and transportation hub.
According to Liricon, building a passenger rail line between the popular tourist town and Alberta's largest city would dramatically reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions in Banff National Park. It would also help to diversify the province's economy by boosting tourism spending, and improve labour mobility in the area, Kenney told reporters.
The proposed project would operate on a new, dedicated passenger line built within the existing Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. freight corridor. The proposal envisions service through seven communities, as well as a stop in downtown Calgary, with net ticket costs for Albertans priced at about $20.
Jan Waterous, managing partner with Liricon Capital, said her company's proposal is to have half of the $1.5-billion capital cost provided by the Canada Infrastructure Bank, which has already signed a memorandum of understanding to complete studies and due diligence for the project.
The remaining portion would be covered by Liricon, Plenary and debt financing, Waterous said. While project partners aren't asking the province to commit any upfront capital funding, they are asking it to commit $30 million annually to the project. The province would not start payments until the rail line is complete, which could be as early as 2025.
"It's essentially a mortgage payment on half the capital. And the reason it's only on half the capital is because the other half we can cover from ticket prices," Waterous said in an interview. "So this is actually very good value for the province.''
Liricon hopes to get a yes or no from the province by early February, Waterous said, so that it can move on to the advanced design phase of the project.
The project will require twinning a heavily travelled portion of CP Rail's track. In an email, CP spokeswoman Salem Woodrow said the company is co-operating with all involved parties to fully understand and assess the magnitude of the project.
"Any proposal to co-locate a passenger rail service on CP property must preserve our capacity to move freight, both at current levels and those required to support future growth,'' Woodrow said. "Alberta's economy depends on a freight rail transportation system that can safely and efficiently move goods and commodities, especially through this critical trade corridor.''
Municipal leaders in the area, including the mayors of both Calgary and Banff, praised the passenger rail proposal Wednesday for its potential to improve connectivity in the region while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Liricon says its own conservative estimates suggest a passenger rail line could capture 25 per cent of daily visitors to Banff, reducing the impact of personal vehicles on the national park.
But environmentalists have previously raised questions about the impact increased rail travel could have on wildlife in the area, as well as the potential environmental harm that could come if the rail line proves popular and increases overall visitation to the park.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.