Nenshi to push UCP for firm commitments on infrastructure cash

Mayor Naheed Nenshi says he’ll push UCP Leader Jason Kenney for firm commitments on the Green Line LRT expansion and the Springbank Dam ahead of next year’s provincial election.

Nenshi said he intends to bring back the Cities Matter campaign — where he queries political parties on their positions on city issues — for the 2019 election,

“If you know me, you know that I don’t sit on my hands and stay quiet when there’s an opportunity to advocate for Calgary,” he told reporters Thursday

“I think it’s important for anybody who wants to be premier of the province to commit fully to the Green Line and to the funding for the Green Line, to have a plan for finishing the Green Line, to commit unequivocally to getting the Springbank Dam built.

“Those are things that we need to hear from everyone.”

Nenshi made the comments following Premier Rachel Notley’s announcement of funding to complete Calgary’s ring road system that saw the mayor heap praise on the NDP government as a “tremendous partner” on infrastructure projects in the city.

Notley announced $1.5 billion for the Green Line at last year’s Stampede and the NDP government is pushing forward with the Springbank off-stream reservoir to mitigate against potential flooding on the Elbow River, despite opposition from landowners and the Tsuut’ina Nation.

The mayor said he’ll be looking for answers on those projects not only from Kenney but also Alberta Party Leader Stephen Mandel and Liberal Leader David Khan.

The unification of Progressive Conservatives and Wildrose under the UCP banner have left Kenney in a strong position to become Alberta’s next premier.

The NDP has based its funding for the Green Line on revenue from its broad-based carbon tax but Kenney has vowed repeatedly that the first act of a UCP government will be to cancel the carbon levy.

“If that is the first thing they’re going to do, then they have to answer the second question, which is ‘how are you going to pay for the Green Line?’” said Nenshi.

Kenney was not made available to comment.

In a statement, the UCP noted Kenney had announced federal funding for the Green Line while he was a Conservative cabinet minister in 2015.

“It’s foolish to assume that all projects will just be cancelled because of a change in government.”

The UCP statement did not mention the Springbank dry dam.

Last month, Kenney said he would take “expert advice” on the project.

“We do need clearly flood mitigation infrastructure … But I’m not committed to any one proposal. I think some of the opponents of Springbank have raised some reasonable concerns,” said the UCP leader, adding the party “might” have a position on the dam before the next election.

Nenshi said he’d prefer the questions around the major projects are settled before the 2019 campaign and don’t actually become election issues.

He said he’ll also be questioning all the parties on issues such as support for a Calgary Olympic bid and their ongoing commitment to infrastructure funding, saying the city faces a “$4-billion gap between our needs and our sources over the next four years, just to keep the lights on.”

One potential major issue for Calgary is a new arena to house the NHL’s Flames, but Nenshi noted that all parties have rejected the idea of funding a facility for a professional sports team.

If you know me, you know that I don’t sit on my hands and stay quiet when there’s an opportunity to advocate for Calgary.