VANCOUVER, B.C. – Western Canada’s transportation ministers gathered in Vancouver to sign a letter of intent promising to co-ordinate their efforts in addressing transportation issues.

The gathering included transportation ministers: Judith Reid, B.C.; Ed Stelmach, Alberta; Mark Wartman, Saskatchewan; and Steve Ashton, Manitoba. Each of them agreed transportation should remain a priority for their respective governments and they signed a Memorandum of Understanding to that effect.

The four western-most provinces share a number of transportation concerns, such as aging transportation infrastructure, increasing traffic congestion and vast distances between urban centres.

The ministers say they will work to increase commercial trucking activity between the western provinces to help each of their economies.

The ministers also discussed their individual transportation priorities and hot topics, such as public-private partnerships.

Each of the western ministers was of the mind the feds should be doing more to help fund infrastructure.