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Pipeline decision possible this summer, says minister

There’s still no Provincial funding commitment to build a water pipeline to Okotoks from Calgary, but a decision could soon be expected, according to Alberta’s infrastructure minister. “We’re considering those applications right now.

There’s still no Provincial funding commitment to build a water pipeline to Okotoks from Calgary, but a decision could soon be expected, according to Alberta’s infrastructure minister.

“We’re considering those applications right now. Those announcements will be made over the course of the summer and we have considered Okotoks’ submission,” said Brian Mason, Alberta minister of infrastructure and transportation. “I can’t tell you what the answer’s going to be, if the final decision has been made, but it’s being given very careful consideration.”

Okotoks has applied for as much as $35 million from the provincial Water For Life program to cover 90 per cent of the cost to build a water pipeline from the City of Calgary.

Mason was asked about the Town’s request during the 2016 Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association conference in Edmonton on May 28. Mason said he has met with Okotoks mayor Bill Robertson and Okotoks CAO Rick Quail to discuss the issue.

He said the provincial government increased funding for water projects in this year’s budget to more than $600 million over the next five years. This includes $400 million for the Water For Life program, which covers up to 90 per cent of the price tag for regional water pipeline projects.

Mason said Okotoks’ case has been made clear to the province. However, he said there are currently more funding applications than there is money available, and the Province has to carefully consider each application.

“We tried to set those priorities, we’ve received an application from your community with regards to that and it’s to support future growth,” he said.

Robertson said the Town is working to ensure the pipeline project is shovel ready so construction can begin as soon as it receives an answer for its funding application.

He said it would be onerous for the Town to have to take on the entire price tag for the projects on its own. He said taking on the entire price tag on its own would leave the Town with less money available for other priorities.

Robertson said the Town could look for federal funds to help build the pipeline. However, he said federal funding would still require a matching contribution from the provincial government.

“We’re always exploring all options,” he said.

If funding is approved, he said the Town will need some sort of temporary water supply to allow it to continue to grow while pipeline construction continues.

“The government does have a significant bank of licenses they hold that they could lend out on a temporary transfer to a municipality,” he said. “I believe that is an option.”

Robertson also said the province should also look at the current first in time, first in right (FITFIR) water licensing regime that gives priority to longer-term license holders over growing municipalities.

“The FITFIR, first in, first out priority system was enacted back in the 1800s, I believe, and this is the 21st century,” he said.

Kyle Ferguson, press secretary to Alberta’s environment minister, said the Town can either seek a groundwater license or it can apply for a temporary, or permanent, license transfer from a surface water source.

“These options are available to all users in a closed basin that want to secure more allocation,” he said. “Okotoks has been issued licences through the transfer of allocation process in the past and currently have additional applications before the Department of Environment and Parks.”

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