NDP government goes a-courtin’ one more time during Stampede
EDMONTON It is a Calgary Stampede tradition as predictable as a white Stetson and as common as a cow patty: the government spending announcement.
This year, on the eve of the Stampede, the Alberta government committed itself to completing the final leg of the Calgary ring road. There was no dollar figure attached because the government hasn’t actually signed a construction contract yet, but the deal is said to be worth about $1 billion.
“The need for that ring road is becoming critical,” said Transportation Minister Brian Mason. “It will improve trade, it will improve competitiveness.” What the NDP government really hopes is it will improve their chances to hold onto Calgary seats in the 2019 provincial election.
Right now, public opinion polls would indicate that as far as Calgary voters are concerned, the NDP is about as appetizing as a prairie oyster.
That’s why the NDP continues to go a-courtin’ during the Stampede.
Last year, Premier Rachel Notley announced $1.5 billion for Calgary’s Green Line LRT.
In 2016, she joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau onstage for a $580-million commitment to the ring road.
In 2015, Notley’s government made two Stampede announcements: a commitment to build the southwest portion of the Calgary ring road (now under construction); and a new cancer centre (also under construction).
It’s not as if the New Democrats invented the Stampede announcement. Previous Progressive Conservative governments had a long tradition of making generous promises to coincide with the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
With the next election less than one year away, there’s a special urgency to the announcements this year. But, based on the direction of public opinion polls the past few years, it’s doubtful Calgarians will be more likely to vote NDP next election based on completion of the ring road. If anything, it’s more likely the new road will simply allow them to get to the polling stations faster to vote for the United Conservative Party.
What might make a difference, though, is an improving economy, something reflected in increased corporate spending at this year’s Stampede.
“This year, the Stampede barometer says our economic storms are starting to pass,” said Notley. “Things are starting to look up.”
What should also help the NDP’s fortunes is seeing construction begin on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. This week, Trans Mountain revealed a six-month “construction schedule.”
According to the company, activities starting in August will include preparing the way for 290 km of pipeline to Jasper National Park from Edmonton. That work will include “surveying, staking and flagging the right-of-way,” as well as taking measures to protect the environment through weed control and “relocation of any rare plants.”
It’s much the same in British Columbia where activities will begin in September to prepare the way for 120 km of pipeline between Mt. Robson Provincial Park and Blue River.
But no actual shovels in the ground. That’s what Notley needs, not just for pre-construction work to begin, but for pipe to actually be laid in the ground. There is no construction schedule yet for that.
Of course, when that finally comes, it will act as a call to arms for environmental protesters who once again this week displayed their talent for dangling from tall structures with colourful banners in Vancouver while receiving praise from Jane Fonda.
Greenpeace and other environmental groups have vowed to disrupt Trans Mountain’s operations, whether that be by preventing bitumen-bearing ships sailing under bridges or by lying in front of bulldozers. It’s not clear yet how or if they will try to stop workers this summer surveying the pipeline route and relocating rare plants.
A bit of good news for Notley is that according to a new public opinion poll, Albertans see her as the politician most responsible for pushing the pipeline ahead.
The survey, conducted for the CBC by Calgary pollster Janet Brown, indicates 42 per cent think she has done the most to get the project underway. But there are 27 per cent who credit Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. And 13 per cent think UCP Leader Jason Kenney is the hero of the day, presumably by pressing Notley to talk tougher on pipelines. (The remaining 18 per cent don’t know who is most responsible.)
However, six out of 10 of those surveyed don’t think the project will be completed, as planned, by 2020. They’d be less skeptical, perhaps, if Trans Mountain’s construction schedule included some actual construction.