With 2019 behind us, we’ve compiled a quick recap of what the year brought and a preview of what to anticipate in 2020.

2019 recap

Provincial election

In the lead-up to the provincial election in April, we surveyed each party on key flood mitigation issues and put pressure on those who had not yet declared publically their commitment to SR1.

Related to these efforts, in January we formed a coalition with Flood Free Calgary that strengthened advocacy work with community leaders and led to new engagement from associations in Inglewood, Chinatown, and Erlton.

• UCP finally announces its clear commitment to the completion of Springbank Off-stream Reservoir
• Survey results: Provincial candidates stance on SR1 and Bow River projects
• Moving flood mitigation forward with Alberta’s new UCP government
• New provincial cabinet ministers: Who will lead flood mitigation projects?

Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir on the Elbow River

Although not without its challenges, 2019 saw a number of promising developments for the SR1 project.

• BREAKING: Robinson family agrees to sell land needed for Springbank Project
• Federal gov’t announces $168.5 million funding for Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1)
• Alberta Transportation submits responses to SR1 information requests
• Remaining SR1 responses filed with federal regulator, provincial review moves to Round 2

Bow River upstream reservoir project

Finally. Work on the Bow has been slow-moving but 2019 closed with three shortlisted projects slated for further study in 2020.

• Assessment of three Bow River upstream options has begun
• Open houses on Bow River upstream reservoir options
• Report on Bow River reservoir options expected in early-2020

Local mitigation

Unfortunately, the year closed with disappointing news in the form of slashed Alberta Community Resilience Program (ACRP) funding in the new provincial budget.

• Design for downtown barrier and Sunnyside projects revealed
• Budget concerns for flood mitigation projects—your input is needed

Additional highlights

Our 2019 AGM took place in September at the Legion downtown, where the Minister of Transportation Hon. Ric McIver spoke with a strong message of commitment to SR1 and Minister of Justice and Solicitor General (and MLA for Calgary-Elbow) Hon. Doug Schweitzer emphasized that flood mitigation is not a partisan issue and gave credit to his Calgary-Elbow predecessor, Greg Clark, for his tireless work on this file.

We breathed a brief sigh of relief when CBC’s Robson Fletcher published his extremely well-researched and well-balanced article, Why 3 Alberta governments chose Springbank to protect Calgary.

Bill C-69 came into force in August, and although the regulatory review for SR1 is not subject to the new standards, any project chosen for the Bow River will be.

2020 forecast

We won’t go into great detail, but here is some of what we expect to see in 2020.

• Glenmore Gates project will be completed on budget and on schedule in spring 2020.
• SR1 federal regulatory review (IAAC) moves into Round 2 of information requests.
• SR1 provincial regulatory (AEP, NRCB) concludes Round 2 of information requests.
• NRCB public hearing (expected in Q3 or Q4).
• Three shortlisted Bow River upstream reservoir projects move to phase 2 – feasibility study.
• Construction of the Downtown Barrier is expected to begin in 2020 with completion anticipated sometime in 2022.

As we close in on the seventh anniversary of the floods, we still have a long road ahead before our city is protected.

To our members: thank you for all your support in 2019 and we look forward to working with you in 2020.

Regards,

Your CRCAG Board