A bill introduced in the legislature recently will move the control of the development and operations of the Global Transportation Hub (GTH) from municipal to provincial jurisdiction to further ensure the business success of GTH clients.
The Global Transportation Hub Authority Act establishes the GTH as a Statutory Corporation; as an Agency of the Crown. It streamlines governance and formalizes responsibilities and ownership of infrastructure assets within the GTH footprint.
"Positioning the GTH as a more effective authority will further contribute to the level of success the GTH has achieved to date," Minister responsible for the GTH Bill Boyd said. "The new legislation will help transition the GTH into a full inland port operation to grow Saskatchewan's warehousing, transportation and logistics sectors in accordance with the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth."
Since the start of this project three years ago the city has worked together with the province to assist in the development of what has become one of the most important economic development projects in Saskatchewan. The GTH has experienced rapid growth and has been an economic benefit to the province and the City of Regina.
The Loblaw Group of Companies warehouse, operated by Canadian Logistics Services has created more than 800 hundred jobs, with additional jobs to be added later this year. The warehouse is ahead of schedule and is now in Phase 3 of operation.
The new CP Rail intermodal facility at the GTH is a 300-acre development, which will increase capacity for container lifts from 40,000 to 250,000 annually and will be operational later this year.
To meet the specific needs of its clients and further its vision as a world-class facility, the GTH will become responsible for its own land use planning and development regulations, governance structure, subdivision approvals and building permits.
The GTH will assume jurisdiction and responsibility for infrastructure design, construction, operations and maintenance including service provision within the GTH boundaries.
The new Act will provide the powers and authorities which will enable the GTH to respond quickly to new opportunities and client needs. It is hoped that the new model will be up and running by summer 2013.
