To continue calling what’s happening these days with budgets a ‘delay’ has become a little boring and, frankly, evasive.
The UCP marketed a balanced budget by the end of their first term, but what they didn’t tell us was that they were going to put on hold practically every project and every attempt at planning in municipalities.
We can’t comment on intent, but we know for a fact that this has been the end result of the UCP blue ribbon panel placing all expenses under review.
Take for instance the stormwater pond for which the Town of Westlock had already received a grant in March.
About $1 million from the province would have been matched by the federal government to cover the better part of a $3.3 million project.
Drainage to the pond was also covered in that total estimation. The entire project would have fixed a lapse in town infrastructure which, we learned in 2016, was absolutely necessary to address.
Was the NDP really that reckless giving $1 million of provincial dollars to a town which experienced a severe flood, then committed to addressing the issue and in two years came up with a plan to fix it?
We don’t think so. But then again, it is our basements that flooded, not Mr. Jason Kenney’s.
And some of them did. Again. Just last week.
It is entirely out of this municipality’s hands that an election happened in April. But the money was already given March 12. As far as we’re concerned, the (orange) province promised a grant, then took it back once it turned blue (in the face from yelling about finances).
In part, mayor Ralph Leriger is right, this shouldn’t be a UCP-NDP issue. But it wouldn’t have been an issue at all had the new provincial government allowed for the money to move into the town’s hands and fix the problem.
The delay in stormwater management in the town is now a UCP issue. Or, we should say, it is an issue because of the UCP.
Meanwhile, we’re fighting wars on fun, and starting pricey legal battles on matters which others have lost before us. Where did that money come from?
Who knows, maybe a stormwater pond in Westlock? Perhaps MLA Glenn van Dijken has some leeway in caucus to speak on behalf of town residents who are tired of flooded basements.
