Sorry if I missed it, but was there an actual announcement or are they just putting up more blue signs saying another project by the UCP?
They've announced a feasibility plan to be released in a year or so. Other than the shot at Guilbeault(he sure lives in her head!) for no practical reason, there wasn't anything really presented.
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Danielle went to Toronto and was inspired by the Go Train so now they're doing a master plan on railways in the province.
There are about six possible projects that they have identified (edmonton area, calgary area, calgary-red deer-banff, calgary-edmonton, banff-jasper, and expansions on the existing LRT network), but we will have to wait a year and spend $9M for consultants to confirm the plan and tell us which lines are feasible and where to start. From there, they'll open it up to UCP donors private companies to bid.
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I'm about 10 minutes behind the live airing, and some of these press questions are silly too. "What do you think about BC rescinding their drug decriminalization plan?"
... What's that got to do with anything going on today?
I mean, I get the press want to ask the premier about all sorts of crap because frankly this announcement today was just "we're planning to come up with a plan! ", but... c'mon: be better, media.
Includes airport links in Calgary and Edmonton and stops in Lethbridge, Okotoks, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Fort Mac, and GP. Certainly more ambitious than I expected
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I'm about 10 minutes behind the live airing, and some of these press questions are silly too. "What do you think about BC rescinding their drug decriminalization plan?"
... What's that got to do with anything going on today?
I mean, I get the press want to ask the premier about all sorts of crap because frankly this announcement today was just "we're planning to come up with a plan! ", but... c'mon: be better, media.
Media's job is not to stay on message for the government. They just introduced a bill that says they can rewrite any municipal bylaw or remove any municipal councillor in Calgary or Edmonton based on confidential cabinet discussions.
I also don't love the decriminalization question because it just gives Danielle a chance to do an unearned victory lap punching on BC. But reporters have a right to ask their questions and hold them to account rather then letting the government turn the page with a plan to make a plan about trains.
Last edited by Flames0910; 04-29-2024 at 01:58 PM.
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Media's job is not to stay on message for the government. They just introduced a bill that says they can rewrite any municipal bylaw or remove any municipal councillor in Calgary or Edmonton based on confidential cabinet discussions.
Reporters have a right to hold them to that rather then letting them turn the page with a plan to make a plan about trains.
The press release reads like a university student keyword-stuffing a paper the night before it's due. Thanks for the history lesson guys. lol
Quote:
Since the early days of Alberta’s development, the province has been shaped by the iron rails that crisscross its landscape. The arrival of the transcontinental railway in the late 19th century brought about profound changes to the way of life, facilitating trade, settlement, and economic prosperity. Towns and cities sprung up along the tracks, serving as vital hubs for commerce and transportation.
Today, the legacy of rail continues to shape Alberta and the rest of Canada. While the modes of transportation may have evolved, the spirit of innovation and connectivity remains as strong as ever...
Includes airport links in Calgary and Edmonton and stops in Lethbridge, Okotoks, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Fort Mac, and GP. Certainly more ambitious than I expected
I question the viability of most of these routes, but they are progressive thoughts for alternative transportation modes. I don’t like the idea of ending the intercity lines where the commuter lines start, thus requiring a transfer or two for any long-distance trip.
I gotta commend them on the initiative to get these projects moving. If they do things right there will be a framework for rail expansion that could unblock a whole bunch of transportation projects that would be transformative for the province.
Knowing this government though, I just don't have a lot of faith. They could have done this work quietly and competently without all the fan-fare but instead they had to go out and take credit for a plan that hasn't actually been planned. Let's see where they're at when the real plan comes out.
Maybe I'm too jaded but I think this "master provincial passenger rail plan" is a cover for the special favour they're going to be doing for the Waterous family. Most likely very little of this plan comes to fruition beyond the Banff-Calgary line.
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I gotta commend them on the initiative to get these projects moving. If they do things right there will be a framework for rail expansion that could unblock a whole bunch of transportation projects that would be transformative for the province.
Knowing this government though, I just don't have a lot of faith. They could have done this work quietly and competently without all the fan-fare but instead they had to go out and take credit for a plan that hasn't actually been planned. Let's see where they're at when the real plan comes out.
It's what Musk does; announce a future announcement.
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Maybe I'm too jaded but I think this "master provincial passenger rail plan" is a cover for the special favour they're going to be doing for the Waterous family. Most likely very little of this plan comes to fruition beyond the Banff-Calgary line.
TBH it kinda seemed like Smith was more interested in the commuter lines (which give her something to offer rural voters in 3 years) but I agree with you and think that might be her public offering to make the Waterous deal happen.
She kept saying "well we have to wait on the feasibility report but if you ask me we need something like the Go train in Toronto" which kind of biases the report before it's even written. Knowing the UCP, the report will just be written to provide confirmation of what they already wanted it to say.
Also kind of a strange announcement to make with none of the city mayors present. Will be interesting to hear what they have to say. Instead, they had the president of the Calgary Airport Authority?
Last edited by Flames0910; 04-29-2024 at 02:19 PM.
", but... c'mon: be better, media.
