City Adopts Links with Rupert and Edmonton

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 03:59 AM

The City of Prince George has agreed to be part of a memorandum of understanding with Prince Rupert and Edmonton.

Initiatives Prince George CEO Gerry Offet says they have been working on this agreement for the better part of a year, particularly on the issues of promotion and marketing. "We think we will be able to show leadership in identifying opportunities and showing we are not shy of working with a major centre."

The agreement calls on all three communities to work together to promote the economic development of Northern B.C. and Northern Alberta.

Offet says there are benefits " It means we will be able to think a little bit farther outside the box, that we'll be able to take advantasge of the experience that edmonton has and understand some of their issues andhoefuly attract some of the businbess they are having trouble handling. It wil also enable both of us to really promote the Port.

The agreement says the parties have a desire to "work together to advance the economic wealth of the cities and their respective regions, and the parties will take advantage of the opportunity to create a resource, manufacturing, education and research ,transport and tourism zone of world significance."

The MOU also recognizes that their respective regions are "engaged in a world-wide competition which will require cooperation and collaboration to guarantee success."

Councillor Don Zurowski says "It is a natural relationship, and natural transportation relationship."

The three city agreement will be officially announced next week at an event in Edmonton which is designed to promote the developments of the Port of Prince Rupert. The Mayors of all three cities, and the Premier of Alberta will be taking part in that event which is set for the 29th of March.

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Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 03:59 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Chadermando on March 20 2007 5:04 AM

I think this is good if we can get a cut of their grociery traffic. Those used to be $25 dollar an hour jobs in this city 15 years ago. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

Posted by: owl on March 20 2007 10:36 AM

I think we should put a tariff on all goods passing through PG. Perhaps that way someone will eventually move the tracks to the outside of the city, allow us to reclaim the river for the use of the people in the community, and put industry, over time, outside the bowl airshed.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 20 2007 1:40 PM

I agree 100 percent Owl!CNR should have been out of downtown Prince George long ago!Prince Rupert is dealing with a similar issue.In this day and age, it is just plain stupid.Prime development land wasted to say nothing of the pollution.

Posted by: Palopu on March 20 2007 6:39 PM

Some of you should come to terms with what is, rather than what you wish it should be. Firstly the CNR located along First Avenue, and beside the River because speculators had bought up all the land in Central Fort George and South Fort George. When the CN located along the River it called the Station Prince George and the City built up around the Railway.

The City of Kamloops has built up around the CP Rail yard in that City and has located Apartments, etc; adjacent to the Rail Lines and seems to be doing ok. In any event I am sure the CN will relocate if the City is willing to pay the hundreds of millions it will cost, otherwise forget it, they will not be going anywhere.

Kelly Douglas, and other Grocery business's relocated to Edmonton, and Vancouver, Calgary, because they can get workers for $15.00 per hour or less, and they can distibute to all of Northern BC the Okanogan, and Alberta from these huge warehouses. This is simply the best and most cost effective way to distribute throughout the Provinces, and you can rest assured that they will not be coming back here anytime soon.

Dont hold you breath for any Spin Offs from Prince Rupert, or Edmonton Alta. We shuld keep in mind that these Cities have been there for 75/80 years and we totally ignored them. Now because it looks like there is some business to be had in Rupert, or Edmonton we are taking an interest. I dont think that we have to much to offer to either City, unless they are in the Market for a good dose of **BS baffles brains**

Posted by: Chadermando on March 20 2007 6:40 PM

I'll second third that comment. The Bear Lake - Fort St James - Vanderhoof connection is long overdue. Lets get our river and downtown back I say. Even if it involves beetle diversification funding. Its a plan for our future.

Posted by: Palopu on March 20 2007 8:24 PM

At the speed that the Railways move, you might get something done in 50 years or more, however I doubt it. The name of the game is to reduce costs and increase profits, and you will do neither by rebuilding your railway.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 20 2007 9:30 PM

Good posts!I discovered recently that there is already a movement underfoot in regards to the Bear Lake-Fort St.James-Vanderhoof connection.It even has a name being thrown around."Mackenzie/Rupert Highway".The road is already there, with the last 30 kilometers or so completed last year.I understand the lobbying will begin soon.
An alternate route to Rupert from further north does make sense.And what a great boost to the small communities along the way.Fort St.James would no longer be the end of highway 27.This would be good for everyone.Now we wait and see if the government is interested.I won't hold my breath!

Posted by: bohemian on March 20 2007 9:30 PM

We should be thankful the politics at the time deemed Prince George to be the location of the CNR.

It was originally going to be Quesnel.

Selkirk, Manitoba was to be the CNR route, too, but it went to Winnipeg.

See what happens when the CNR comes to town 100 years ago?

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 20 2007 9:34 PM

...and your right Palopu,the CN rail yard is not going anywhere.I doubt it will go anywhere in Rupert either,in spite of the rumours that have been around for years.

Posted by: owl on March 20 2007 11:34 PM

Has anyone been monitoring the changes in track usage between the BCR and the CNR yards? If so, what are the changes?

Posted by: Palopu on March 21 2007 4:28 PM

It seems that the CNR Yard is used mostly for through trains ie: Grain to Prince Rupert, and empty returns, Coal Trains from the Tumbler Ridge area and returns, Lumber trains from West of Prince George going East, and some local switching for the local mills such as Lakeland, The Pas, Brink, Interior Warehouse, Imperial Oil.

The balance of the work and switching is being done in the BC Rail yards.

The CN Yard will be further utilized when the Container trains from Prince Rupert come through on their way to the US Midwest. This will mean an additional 3 150 car trains (over 1 Mile long) a day in each direction and they will need this yard to facilitate this traffic in addition to what they already handle. I suggest that if they had any thought of moving this whole operation to the BC Rail side that they have now abandoned the idea.

Just as a reminder for anyone that might be interested. The CN Rail yard has been leaking and spilling diesel on the property for almost 100 years and anyone who thinks that this property is not polluted, is kidding themselves. It will cost millions and millions to rehabilate this land, if you use what is required for a Service Station as an example. I suggest that anyone who takes ownership of the property will be responsible for the clean up. Who knows?