Post Event | Partnering in Alberta’s Success: A conversation with the Canada Infrastructure Bank

On March 5, the Calgary Chamber hosted Partnering in Alberta’s Success: A conversation with the Canada Infrastructure Bank. This event featured opening remarks from Hon. Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade, a keynote address from the CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, Ehren Cory, a fireside chat with Calgary Chamber President & CEO, Deborah Yedlin, and a panel discussion with local infrastructure leaders Chris Dinsdale, CEO, Calgary Airport Authority and Dale Friesen, SVP, Corporate Affairs & Chief Government Affairs Officer, ATCO.

Mr. Corey began his remarks by discussing some of the key investments that the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has made in Alberta, specifically the NewCold storage and logistics facility, and the $466 million invested across 10 irrigation districts to support reliable commercial access to water. Mr. Corey went on to discuss the mandate of the CIB and the need for public dollars to backstop large-scale infrastructure that is in the public interest. He described the shareholder relationship between the CIB and the Government of Canada and highlighted how the CIB’s priorities can (and do) shift with government priorities and public needs.

The fireside chat with Calgary Chamber President & CEO, Deborah Yedlin, covered many aspects of infrastructure development and the value of public-private partnerships, including:

• Trade-enabling infrastructure and the need for expanded economic corridors.  
• Canada’s growing infrastructure deficit, which is currently priced at $270 billion. 
• Potential future CIB priorities, including northern economic corridors, improved west-east trade-enabling infrastructure and energy.  
• The importance of economic opportunity and meaningful Indigenous partnership in CIB projects.  

The panel discussion, featuring Chris Dinsdale, Dale Friesen, and Ehren Corey, moderated by Deborah Yedlin, covered various topics – from recently announced aviation projects to energy infrastructure development in partnership with ATCO. Panelists discussed the key role that the CIB can play in de-risking large-scale infrastructure that private dollars can then support.

Panelists also covered how infrastructure projects – such as the Lufthansa Technik partnership with WestJet – can act as regional economic drivers, creating significant spinoff benefits for workers, small and medium-sized enterprises and post-secondary institutions. Panelist highlighted how infrastructure projects can be hubs for economic growth, driving productivity and prosperity, while building community.

Panelists closed the discussion by noting that with heightened geopolitical uncertainty, the time to develop nation-building infrastructure projects is now, and the CIB can play a key role in these projects. In order to meet the increasingly complex economic and international challenges of our time, we need strong and smart infrastructure investments that drive economic growth, energy security, diversification and prosperity across the nation.

Special thanks to the Canada Infrastructure Bank for making this event possible.