Tsuut’ina scolds Nenshi over Springbank dam talks
Tsuut’ina official says he’s not aware of imminent deal on project to divert part of Elbow River
Tsuut’ina officials say they’re baffled by Mayor Naheed Nenshi’s suggestion Wednesday the First Nation might be close to a deal with the province on the contentious Springbank dry dam.
At a Wednesday news conference detailing $13.5 million in flood mitigation projects for Calgary, Nenshi said talks between the two sides are bearing fruit — just weeks after the Tsuut’ina voiced opposition to the Elbow River diversion project near their land.
“It’s my understanding conversations are actually going very well and that there really is a resolution in short sight — I certainly hope that’s the case,” Nenshi said.
He said the $263-million project, also rejected by some Springbank landowners, would benefit the Tsuut’ina.
“We think it is extremely useful for the Tsuut’ina Nation as well ... and will continue to make that case and be helpful in any way we can,” said Nenshi.
But Tsuut’ina spokesman Kevin Littlelight said Nenshi’s statements on progress in addressing the First Nation’s concerns are baffling.
“There’s never been government-to-government meetings,” Littlelight said, suggesting Nenshi mind his own business. “The mayor, bless his heart, should focus on getting the Flames a new arena, that should be his priority ... he’s not in the loop.”
Littlelight said the First Nation still has concerns about environmental damage and safety, given part of the project is only 400 metres from reserve land.
“We still say no damn way, it’s not the best option,” he said.
But a spokeswoman for Infrastructure Minister Brian Mason’s office said the minister recently met with Tsuut’ina Chief Lee Crowchild.
“Minister Mason met with the chief two weeks ago and it was a positive meeting,” said Aileen Machell. “We plan to meet again very soon.”
Meanwhile, Nenshi said the province needs to cut “a giant cheque” to fund flood-proofing work on the Bow River upstream from Calgary.
He made the comments as details of $13.5 million in provincial funding were announced for flood mitigation work in Calgary, including nearly $10 million for a new pump station and upgrades to another in the Sunnyside area badly damaged in the 2013 deluge.
Nenshi said the projects announced Wednesday would go a long way toward protecting Calgary communities and the downtown from severe flooding, but said a piece of the puzzle is still missing — mitigation measures west of the city along the Bow River.
“It’s very clear the provincial government is making the moves it needs to make,” said Nenshi.
“The next big thing the provincial government is going to help us with is a giant cheque for upstream mitigation on the Bow River.”
But Nenshi said funding can wait “until we know what that (work) looks like.” Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips, who attended the announcement, smiled but was non-committal.
During the June 2013 flood, the Bow overflowed its banks, submerging sections of Bowness, Sunnyside and the downtown, and damaged parts of Inglewood as well as other infrastructure downstream.
TransAlta Utilities, which operates a series of dams on the Bow upstream from Calgary, committed last year to altering water levels at the structures during the flood season to reduce the risk. They’ll be compensated to the tune of $27.5 million over five years.
Wednesday’s announcement of seven projects also included a flood barrier in West Eau Claire that will shield the downtown, along with water flow improvements for Harvie Passage at Inglewood. While valuable improvements, Nenshi said they won’t immunize the city.
“We’ll always have flooding, what we do is minimize the impacts,” he said, noting Calgarians are set to head into another season of anxiety nearly four years after the $5-billion 2013 flood.
“For many Calgarians, spring is a time of nervousness.”