Calgary, Sept. 29 -- Canada and Alberta governments announced Sunday they will collaborate to explore high-speed rail connecting Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton, referring the initiative to the federal Major Projects Office alongside the existing Toronto-Quebec City high-speed rail effort.

Under the collaboration, Canada and Alberta will set up a joint governance structure to guide planning and assess market interest, including potential market-sounding activities, and will engage Indigenous communities, municipalities, industry and the public as the work progresses.

Officials described it as complementing ongoing federal efforts to strengthen intercity passenger rail across the country.

Smith called the project "a generational investme...