The provincial budget includes $400 million in funding over five years for water pipelines, but there’s no answer on the Town’s request for money to build one from Calgary.
In total the provincial budget included more than $600 million for water projects over the next five years, including $400 million for the Water For Life program, which covers up to 90 per cent of the price tag for regional water pipeline projects.
This year’s budget includes $80 million and $55 million is expected for next year. Funding will be boosted to $105 million in 2018-’19, before dropping to $80 million for each of the 2019-‘20 and 2020-‘21 budget years. There is also $195 million available through the municipal water and wastewater program and $112 million for water management infrastructure.
The Town has applied for $34 million from the Water for Life program to cover 90 per cent of the cost to build a water pipeline form Calgary.
Okotoks mayor Bill Robertson said he was pleased to see funding for the Water for Life program and he’s hopeful the Town’s request will be approved.
“I’m cautiously optimistic, it’s about all we can say until we get an announcement,” he said.
The Town submitted its application to the province almost a year ago and has not heard a response to date.
Robertson said The Town hopes to get funding from water for life because it would cover as much as 90 per cent of costs, but it will accept whatever support the Province will provide.
“The maximum we could get would be 90 per cent under water for life, we will certainly be grateful for whatever we get,” he said.
Highwood MLA Wayne Anderson said the pipeline is essential now that the Town and MD have agreed on annexation.
He said the Province needs to make a commitment to the pipeline and he’s optimistic it will come through after last week’s budget.
Anderson said he has personally brought the issue up with transportation minister Brian Mason, whose department oversees Water for Life, on several occasions.
“There’s no commitment yet, but the ministers know this is an issue that’s on the forefront,” he said.
