I know that many residents adjacent to the Deerfoot & Anderson construction are frustrated with the noise, dust, and lack of information about the project. The Ward 11 office hears you and have been trying since the project was announced, to advocate on your behalf.
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In December of 2022 I requested a meeting with Transportation Minister Dreeshen to discuss project expectations including public drawings, detour planning, and accommodations. Despite making myself available to meet in Calgary, Innisfail, or Edmonton, the Minister did not make time to meet after repeatedly cancelling.

In March of 2023, a letter signed jointly between Councillors Demong, Carra, Spencer, and me, outlined again our support for the project but also concerns for residents was sent to area representatives Minister Shandro and MLAs Gotfried & Fir as well as Minister Dreeshen.

​In May we received a response from Minister Dreeshen simply summarizing the project and directed us to the project website. This was indicative of the Minsters lack of interest in having a fulsome conversation about impacts to residents.
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In July 2024, following an influx of resident complaints, the Ward 11 Office reached out once again to Minister Dreeshen to act. We were met again with a stock response that did not adequately address the realities of the disruption this project has caused residents.​

Over the course of the project, I have met with City administrative teams to share my concerns; they took away the messages to try and work with Alberta Transportation and AECON on the project. I can state that AECON has tried to be responsive and have been good stewards of City assets adjacent to the project. However, as they have a provincial order to conduct work overnight, the City cannot interfere.
It remains unclear whether AECON or Alberta Transportation are responsible for updating the project website and sending timely project emails.
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I encourage you to continue to direct your concerns through the project website, to Minister Fir, and directly to Minister Dreeshens office. 

​Home - Deerfoot Trail Improvements (deerfootimprovements.ca)
 
Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors
Executive Branch
127 Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T5K 2B6
Phone: 780 427-2080
E-mail: [email protected]


Tanya Fir, MLA, Calgary - Peigan
Legislative Branch
255, 11488 - 24 Street SE
Calgary, AB
T2Z 4C9
Phone: 587 392-8850
E-mail: [email protected]


- Kourtney

Make no mistake, the provincial UCP government and Minister of Transportation Devin Dreeshen have gambled on the Green Line, and Calgarians lost.

What’s more, they’ve delivered a devastating blow to the economic future of Calgary. They’ve cost thousands of Calgarians years’ worth of good paying jobs in the trades on the Green Line project and on construction projects adjacent to the Green Line. They’ve jeopardized critically needed housing projects in both market and non-market housing. They’ve now risked federal funding dollars supporting affordable housing along the Green Line and for transit projects across the city.

The provincial government expected Council to kowtow to their demands at any cost to Calgarians. However, I, along with the majority of my council colleagues, were committed to delivering the best project which appropriately supported communities and economic growth through a well-researched and technically feasible manner.

The latest Greenline alignment approved by Council, while truncated due to inflationary pressures, had a solid foundation setting a path towards a fulsome line that would allow future growth for the Green Line to extend to the much-needed north line through Eau Claire, and further south towards Shepard, and eventually Seton.

The approved alignment has been studied extensively, reviewed many times, including by the Province twice, having expressed their concerns and having the City address those concerns. The Minister of Transportation had every opportunity to review these, but based on his comments and actions, did not take that crucial step. In fact, just one month ago, Minister Dreeshen said provincial funding for the project was "100 per cent" secure and “commitment from the province for the Green Line (is) in place and that (the Mayor and Council) can bank on it." This is beyond poor governance, and it is costing Calgary taxpayers.

I know many Calgarians and Ward 11 residents and businesses have made significant decisions based on the Green Line, and I share in your frustration at the current situation the UCP government has put us in. I remain committed to delivering quality public transit for Calgarians and will, when the time is appropriate, explore next steps for improved transit delivery for the communities most impacted by this broken promise from the provincial UCP government.

I encourage you to tell Minister Dreeshen and Premier Smith to keep their promise and maintain provincial funding for the Green Line:

• [email protected]
• [email protected] 
• [email protected]

- Kourtney