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Gov’t erred in refusing Seal Lake grant, say 3 councils
Chris Clegg
for South Peace News
Efforts continue on several fronts to persuade the Alberta government to reverse its decision to not provide money from its resource road program to upgrade the Seal Lake Road.
The M.D. of Big Lakes, Town of High Prairie and Northern Sunrise Country have all written letters to Alberta Minister of Transportation Luke Ouelette objecting to its previous decision.
“Apparently, it was declined for funding because of a misconception that the road would not be public,” wrote High Prairie Mayor Rick Dumont in a letter May 12. “We are not aware how the false assumption came about, but we can assure you that this project was always designed to be a public road.”
Northern Sunrise County Reeve Agnes Knudsen agrees and requests the government also review its decision.
Alberta Transportation has deemed the project ineligible for funding. . .as it is not a public road," writes Knudsen in a letter May 12. “The decision rendered is completely inconsistent with past precedent as funding has previously been awarded for the Peavine North Road, the Peavine - McLennan Road, South Harmon Valley Extension and the Seal Access to name but a few. The Seal Lake Connector Road is a new road and will become a public road once constructed.”
She adds Northern Alberta roads are the “lifelines of industry” in the north and play a critical role in the development of the oil industry.
The M.D. council expressed shock at its April 22 meeting after hearing the grant was denied. It set the wheels in motion to continue the lobby to get the decision reversed.
“It shocked the hell out of a lot of us,” says M.D. CAO Jeff Renaud. “It was a bit of a shocker.”
Local councils were led to believe the project would be approved. Immediately, everyone went into investigation mode to find out what happened.
The M.D.’s deputy reeve, David Marx, also wrote Ouelette May 12. He called the decision “frustrating” and reiterated the road would be public after its construction.
“It is our sincere hope that with your support, and that of Minister Snelgrove (who was extremely supportive of our project when we met with him last November) that the absence of funding from your government will soon be rectified.”
The resource road application was made and submitted to the Alberta government by Northern Sunrise County Nov. 28, 2008. If approved, the program allows for a maximum of $1.5 million. Big Lakes has now committed $1.650 million toward the project while the Town of High Prairie has earmarked $200,000. Total cost of the project is estimated at $3.5 million.
Completion of the road is seen as a vital economic link to help the High Prairie region as it leads from the oil-rich area south into town through Peavine Metis Settlement.
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