Rail Dispute: Canada’s Reputation in on the Line  

Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association has been promoting Alberta’s Industrial Heartland (AIH) as a destination for global capital investment over the last 25 years. When competing globally for foreign direct investment, being able to demonstrate that our jurisdiction is secure, reliable and predictable is extremely important. This helps lower the risk profile of an investment and increases the chances of a company building a new facility in our region.   

This work has proven very successful with many major announcements, like Dow’s Path2Zero, a historic announcement of a net-zero facility into AIH and a record-breaking capital expenditure in the Industrial Heartland. Investments like these offer long-term rippling benefits that support strong communities and economies for decades to come.  

However, the current uncertainty around rail logistics or access to markets are a risk to attracting long-term foreign direct investment. 

AIH competes for investment with other major industrial hubs in the world, including hubs in the Middle East and US Gulf Coast. Every region has its advantages and disadvantages, but the Industrial Heartland has worked relentlessly to build global awareness of the advantages of our region, including low-cost feedstocks, stability, and business-friendly policies. But let me cut to the chase: it’s a highly competitive space.  

AIHA is concerned that a potential nation-wide rail disruption will impact our industry’s supply chain and bring global exports to a grinding halt. If this happens, it will deliver a blow to Canada’s reputation as a trading partner and undermine our efforts to attract the necessary global capital to diversify our economy. 

Canada owes it to our domestic and international customers to continue to be valued and reliable supply chain partners. Governments, organized labour and industry must work together to protect Canada’s reputation by ensuring that a national rail disruption is avoided.  

 Mark Plamondon
Executive Director, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association