CALGARY – It’s a battle that has lasted more than five decades, but Calgary is one step closer to getting a ring road in the southwest.
Tsuu T’ina First Nation band members voted overwhelmingly in favour of a deal with the Province Thursday night, with 644 members voting yes, while 280 voted no.
“If this deal had been just about the road, it would never have been approved,” says Tsuu T’ina Chief Roy Whitney. “The deal was approved by 644 nation members who voted for a better, more secure future.”
The Tsuu T’ina will give up 1,058 acres of land in exchange for 5,018 acres from the province and $275 million.
The province will also pay an additional $65 million to the Tsuu T’ina for infrastructure and displacement costs, putting the total at $340.7 million.
The province will also purchase a corner of the Weaselhead Park from the City of Calgary, and the existing high-pressure gas line and overhead electrical lines will be relocated from Weaselhead Park to the transportation and utility corridor
The Alberta government has seven years to build the project.
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi says he’s very happy to hear the news, calling it a historic deal for the city and the province.
“I think this is a win, win, win,” says Nenshi. “A win for the people of Calgary, a win for the province of Alberta and a win for the people of the Tsuu T’ina Nation.”
Nenshi suggests the deal is evidence of a growing relationship between the City of Calgary and the Tsuu T’ina.
“So many Calgarians don’t even realize that there is a first nations reserve directly across the street, and we certainly have not had great relationships with our neighbours on a number of fronts for many, many, many, years,” says Nenshi. “We have worked hard to fix those relationships.”
Premier Alison Redford calls the deal a tremendous success.
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Redford credits the deal to Transportation Minister Ric McIver, and his ongoing dialog with the Tsuu T’ina First Nation.
For his part, McIver says the deal is about more than a road, it’s about quality of life.
“It’s a great day because everyone has come together as the neighbours that we are, as the friends that we are, and as the partners that we are,” says Mciver.
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