Southwest Calgary Ring Road (November 23)
Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The failure to build the Calgary southwest ring road frustrates Calgary commuters, businesses, and truckers, and it seems like now the talks with the Tsuu T’ina Nation are on the back burner.
To the Minister of Transportation. The Premier committed during the leadership campaign to either secure an agreement with the Tsuu T’ina Nation or build a road through Bragg Creek along highway 22 or 22X. Can the minister tell us what plan is going forward?
Mr. Danyluk: Well, Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to say that I have been talking to the chief of the Tsuu T’ina Nation, and I will say that we’ve had good discussions. We met. I had some questions, and so did he, and we’re going to meet in the future.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that the Premier stated in her first election campaign that if elected MLA, she would get the southwest ring road done and still after almost four years nothing has been done, can the minister, with a straight face, tell us: is progress being made?
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mr. Danyluk: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In fact, progress is being made all the time. As I said a couple of seconds ago, I had discussions with the chief of the Tsuu T’ina Nation, and we are continuing to have discussions. So is progress being made?
Very much so.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the progress being made is at a snail’s pace. I think we have to speed things up, Mr. Minister. To the Minister of Transportation again: given that Alberta Transportation’s own website lists ongoing consultation of new possible roads for the ring road, none of which fulfill the Premier’s campaign promise, will the minister commit to ending the Calgary southwest ring road planning study started in December 2009 or . . .
The Speaker: The hon. minister, please.
Mr. Danyluk: Well, Mr. Speaker, I need to say that when we have discussions with the Tsuu T’ina Nation, we are having discussions, progressive discussions, about the needs of the Nation as well as the needs of Calgarians and the surrounding province.
Alberta Hansard, November 23, 2011