Greg Clark, MLA Calgary-Elbow has been in the media a lot lately, defending the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir Project (SR1) and working to correct misconceptions and false narratives.

We are sharing two important pieces of media coverage from late December.

• Greg Clark December 19 interview on Danielle Smith’s 770AM radio show
• Greg Clark’s December 28 op-ed in the Calgary Herald

On December 19, Greg Clark was on Danielle Smith’s 770AM radio show to dispell some of the common misconceptions about SR1.

Greg reached out to Danielle hoping to respond to an SR1-related interview with Bruce McAllister, Executive Director of Rocky View 2020, a pro-business landowner advocacy group, and former MLA for Chestermere-Rocky View.

You can listen to Greg’s interview here and we have highlighted a few of his key points:

• The misconception that SR1 will not hold 2013-level floods is false.
• If we don’t keep Calgary downtown viable, those tax costs go somewhere; business and property taxes
  throughout Calgary.
• Tri-Rivers proposal is not a viable option; much too far upstream; would not have protected against 2005-type flood (cumulative rain in mountains); far too expensive.
• Bow River Working Group is working on a proposal for drought mitigation on Bow River. Geographically, the Elbow is not ideal for drought mitigation projects (it is a much narrower valley), whereas the Bow River (a much wider valley) is better suited to this type of project.
• Yes, the downtown was flooded in part by the Bow River but the risk to downtown comes from both rivers (confluence backflow at Fort Calgary, LRT tunnel flooding northwest of Stampede Grounds, 4th Street up to 17th Avenue will flood the Beltline from the backside).
• The current Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency review, to be issued shortly, will be very comprehensive and detailed, will address these remaining misconceptions and will provide yet further information on alternate upstream mitigation proposals.
• Plus more on budget concerns; Priddis/Fish Creek option; the need for land expropriation; and listener comments.

On December 20, Bruce McAllister also penned a disappointing op-ed in the Calgary Herald published, to which Greg Clark responded in his December 28 op-ed in the Calgary Herald.

“They’re trying to create doubt in the minds of the public by putting out a false narrative about perceived negative impacts. They’ve used the courts in an attempt to delay the project in hopes a new government will cancel it, or that there’s a loss of political will.” – Greg Clark, MLA Calgary-Elbow

We’ve also summarized and linked Greg’s Dec 12 CBC Eyeopener interview here: 7 key points on SR1: MLA Greg Clark responds to Rocky View County news on CBC Eyeopener.

Thanks again to Greg for his tireless efforts in support of flood mitigation!

Regards,

Your CRCAG Board