Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU), Building Trades of Alberta (BTA), and Friends of Calgary Airport–Banff Rail (CABR) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize collaboration in support of building the Calgary Airport–Downtown–Bow Valley–Banff passenger rail system.
The agreement signals a shared commitment to move from years of study to construction on one of Canada’s most shovel-ready passenger rail projects, creating good-paying union jobs, strengthening Alberta’s economy, and building confidence in Canada’s ability to deliver major infrastructure.
CABR represents an immediate opportunity to put Canada’s skilled tradespeople to work while diversifying Alberta’s economy. Designed primarily within an existing CPKC rail corridor and supported by MOUs with CPKC and the Canada Infrastructure Bank, the project is positioned to advance far more quickly than typical greenfield infrastructure. CABR was formally submitted in December 2025 to the federal Major Projects Office as a Project of National Interest.
“Canada has the workforce and the need,” said Sean Strickland, executive director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions. “This agreement reflects our members’ readiness to build nation-building infrastructure that delivers good jobs and long-term public value.”
Independent analysis estimates that combined Calgary Airport – Downtown Express (CADE) and CABR construction from Downtown to Banff would support approximately 9,900 job-years, equivalent to roughly 1,700 full-time jobs, generate nearly $700 million in economic output over a three-year build, and create hundreds of permanent operational jobs. Over the long term, the project is projected to support more than 22,000 jobs through tourism and related economic activity.
“Alberta’s building trades are ready to build,” said Terry Parker, executive director of Building Trades Alberta. “Investing in projects like CABR puts Albertans to work, supports apprentices, and delivers infrastructure that strengthens the province.” The MOU emphasizes safety, quality, apprenticeship training, and inclusive workforce development, while recognizing the importance of coordination across municipal, provincial, and federal governments. Advancing CABR now would increase good-paying unionized employment and bring more opportunity to Alberta’s next generation of major infrastructure projects.
“Passenger rail from the airport through downtown Calgary to Banff is more than transportation, it’s an economic development strategy,” said Adam Waterous, chair of Liricon Capital and lead proponent of CABR. “This MOU demonstrates alignment between labour, proponents, and advocates. With collaboration across governments, Alberta can show leadership by building infrastructure that works for workers, communities, and the economy.”
Calgary Airport–Banff Rail (CABR) is a proposed 150-kilometre passenger rail system connecting Calgary International Airport to downtown Calgary via access to CADE, to stations in west Calgary, and communities in the Bow Valley Corridor through to Banff. The project is designed to improve labour mobility, support the visitor economy, reduce congestion and emissions, and strengthen Alberta’s long-term economic diversification. CABR leverages an existing rail corridor, private and institutional capital, and proven delivery models to accelerate implementation.
Featured image: (Liricon Capital)
