Last Monday Premier Kenney made some comments that were surprising to us, given the very clear statements made by both Minister of Transportation Ric McIver and Minister of Justice Doug Schweitzer at our AGM the week before.

Both Ministers stated the Government’s full support and effort behind the completion of the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1) to mitigate floods on the Elbow River.

The Premier’s comments suggested that if the legal barriers to SR1 seemed insurmountable, it may abandon course and consider an alternate project. That was surprising to us – particularly being six years into a likely 10-year process to get a flood mitigation project operational.

In our view, if SR1 comes to a halt for any reason (be that regulatory challenges, opposition challenges or, worse: the Government’s lack of staying power) the Elbow River will see no upstream mitigation project ever constructed.

It was encouraging, however, to hear the Premier reiterate his commitment to protect Calgary from flooding as quickly as possible.
 

A new project would face more challenges than SR1

We know that all flood mitigation projects (upstream or local) will face some measure of opposition, including court challenges (as has occurred with SR1) and regulatory process and scrutiny.

The last three years (the CEAA application process started in 2016) have only confirmed to us that halting SR1 and starting a new project would guarantee no new project ever being completed. Why do we feel that way? 

• If an alternate project were to be started, in lieu of SR1, the project would be subject to the new and untested Bill C-69 “Impact Assessment Act” (the one Premier Kenney calls the “No New Pipelines Act”).
• A project like the McLean Creek (MC1) alternative would attract many and more varied stakeholders opposing the project.
• In view of the length and difficulty of such a project, in our opinion, there is no series of governments in the future that will have the staying power to see another new project through to completion. (At least not until we’re devastated by the next flood.)

We’ve had six years of work and massive public expense on SR1 to date, with likely another 18-24 months to get full approval and another three years of construction. Our government cannot let that investment go to waste because of completely anticipated and manageable opposition, only to start the whole process over again with a much lower chance of success.   
 

Responses from Ministers:

When we raised our concerns in separate phone calls with Minister McIver and Minister Schweitzer, we were assured that there is absolutely no change in the Government’s course to see SR1 through to full in-service completion: it will do what is necessary to secure regulatory approval, address stakeholder concerns, address litigation that may result and to ultimately protect this city.

From Minister Schweitzer, we received the following statement (as did our members who wrote in their concerns):

Good afternoon all-

Thank you for your email. Our office has been in touch with the office of the Minister of Transportation, and is pleased to provide you with the following response to your concerns.

Our government is committed to completing the regulatory approval process of the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir project (SR1) without delay. This is a key part of our priority to provide flood mitigation to the City of Calgary.

The Minister of Transportation is working hard to provide the regulators with the information they have requested. This is a highly complex process, which the Minister will continue to prioritize to ensure that SR1 proceeds without further delay.

The Premier correctly noted, as did Minister McIver at the CRCAG AGM last week, that the federal environmental assessment process is unpredictable and lengthy. This does not change our government’s support for SR1. 

It is critical that we remain focused on this process, despite the ongoing opposition to this project. Our government’s commitment to SR1 remains and will continue as we work through the regulatory process.

Sincerely, Doug Schweitzer

Minister McIver assured us that his original mandate letter requiring him to complete SR1 has in no way been altered.

We also impressed upon the Ministers the importance for all members of Government, including the Premier, to stay on message consistent with the UPC’s policy statement before the election. Here it is again:

Statement: United Conservative Leader Jason Kenney on Springbank Dam Proposal (March 19, 2019)
 

Response from the City:

Lastly, we asked the City to once again confirm, at a high level, why it has supported SR1 following its own analysis. Here’s a link to the City’s executive summary of its reviews of the numerous mitigation options considered. Please read this, yet again.

Elbow River flood mitigation alternatives evaluated
 

Let’s get on with it!

As an aside and for all those opponents who’ve long suggested that Calgary’s residents and businesses that are at risk of flooding should simply move out of harm’s way, the City has actually done that rough calculation. $43 Billion is a bit pricey, no?

So we ask this Government to please stay the course, stay on message, get married to SR1 and GET IT DONE.

Regards,

Your CRCAG Board