Summary#

Calgary City Council approved a decision authorizing the City to enter two memoranda of understanding (MOUs). The stated goal is to strengthen Calgary’s role in trade corridors and improve access to global markets; the decision does not guarantee those results.

• The Mayor, or a member of the Prairie Economic Gateway Oversight Committee designated by the Mayor, may sign an MOU with CentrePort Canada Inc., Global Transportation Hub Authority, Rocky View County and Leduc County to support creating the Canadian Inland Ports Alliance.
• The same authorized signers may sign an MOU with Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Rocky View County to support market access and Calgary’s role in national trade corridors.
• The City’s legal department must find the form of each MOU acceptable.
• Two confidential attachments are to remain confidential until the applicable MOU is signed, then be reviewed for release.
• The motion passed 14 to 1. Councillor Wyness voted against.

What it means for you#

• Calgarians: The decision does not directly change your rights, services, taxes or fees. City staff project regional economic benefits, but they are not guaranteed by the decision.
• Calgary businesses: The MOUs are intended to support better connections to trade routes and markets. The decision does not itself provide a grant or guarantee businesses new customers or investment.
• City and regional partners: The Mayor or designated committee member is authorized, but not required, to sign the two MOUs on Calgary’s behalf.

Money#

City staff report no anticipated financial impact from approving the MOUs.

• Staff say the MOUs do not commit the City to funding or future capital investment; any later financial or capital commitments would return to Council.
• Staff project more than $7 billion in regional economic activity and more than 30,000 jobs over 10 to 12 years. These are projections, not guaranteed results.

What is unclear#

• The MOUs are in confidential attachments, so their detailed terms are not available here. The attachments are to be reviewed for release after the relevant MOU is signed.
• The report does not explain how staff calculated the projected jobs and economic activity, or how much is expected to benefit Calgary specifically.
• The decision does not set out specific projects, timelines, performance measures or public reporting for the partnerships.

Case for#

• City staff say the agreements could give Calgary a stronger role in planning trade routes and advocating for trade-related infrastructure.
• Staff say coordination among inland ports, the Port of Vancouver and regional partners could improve freight connections and businesses’ access to markets.
• Staff project jobs and economic activity across the region, and say stronger supply chains could benefit Calgary businesses and residents.

Case against#

• City staff identify a risk that the agreements could be seen as supporting investment outside Calgary’s boundaries.
• The projected economic benefits are not guaranteed, and the public material does not explain how the projections were calculated.
• The confidential MOU terms limit public assessment of what the partners will commit to and how progress will be measured. Councillor Wyness voted against the motion; the minutes provided do not state his reason.