The Government of Alberta announced April 14 that it had reached what it called a milestone for the controversial Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1).
According to an April 14 press release, the Tsuut'ina First Nation formally has formally withdrawn its objection to the reservoir, which is intended to provide flood protection for Calgary along the Elbow River. In an April 1 letter to the Natural Resoources Conservation Board and the Impact Assessment Agency, the First Nation stated it will not further participate in the project's regulatory process.
"Our primary concern has always been the protection of our people and our land," Chief Roy Whitney stated in the release. "We have reached an agreement that provides that protection and allows us to mitigate impacts from flooding in the future. The agreement reached is an example of how our governments can work together."
Details of the agreement were not disclosed in the press release.
In July 2019, then-chief Lee Crowchild held a press conference formalizing Tsuut'ina's opposition to the project, which he called "destructive."
"The Tsuut'ina Nation is an important partner," Ric McIver, minister of Transportation, stated in the April 14 press release. "We committed to meaninguflly consult with impacted communities on the Springbank Reservoir, and the withdrawal of the Nation's objections demonstrates we are doing just that. This marks a major milestone in the regulatory review of the Springbank Reservoir and we are pleased to coninue to work with our First Nations partners."
The project continues to garner opposition in some corners. Immidiately following the government's announcement, Don't Damn Springbank – a grassroots organization of landowners and concerned Rocky View County residents – posted to its Facebook page, calling it "the latest in a series of hidden back-room deals on this project."
Banff-Kananaskis MLA Miranda Rosin also commented on the decision by Tsuut'ina First Nation on her Facebook page.
"While I accept and respect the decision their government has made, my position on SR1 has not and will not change," she wrote. "When I ran, I promised those of you living in Sprinbank, Redwood Meadows and Bragg Creek that I would advocate for a project that better protects all of us, and I will not waver on my promise."
