Trains have been part of the fabric of Canada since the beginning of confederation. The railway was the lifeline and artery which united the country from sea to sea, and helped create Canada as we know it today.
And just as rail-lines united the country back in the late 19th century, they might also be the key to greater regional unity going forward.
Last week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Yes, he still is prime minister for a little bit longer), launched a billion dollar initiative to expand high speed passenger rail service between Toronto and Quebec City with the implication that such efforts may eventually expand elsewhere.
Alberta has also recently been eyeing expanded passenger rail service within the greater Calgary area and as far out as Banff.
Could Justin Trudeau and Danielle Smith have found something in common at long last? Could there not be opportunities to work together on a massive infrastructure investment of this nature and have both sides reap the rewards?
There just might be the possibility. Rail is in Smith’s bones. She used to run a restaurant out of an old train car before becoming premier even. And Trudeau, along with his federal Liberal counterparts/ successors, see public transit as one of the best ways to fight climate change by taking cars off the road.
So there are some synergies there, and the benefit to Alberta is incredibly clear if the costing can be figured out.
Perhaps Canada and Alberta could join hands on this rail building endeavour. Either as a nation building exercise, or maybe just as a renewed exercise in how Alberta and Ottawa can work together again after years of bipartisan rancour.
