As expected, the dollars are really piling up for mitigation efforts related to the June flood in the Bow Valley.
Parks Canada is funneling $19.5 million into infrastructure repairs, Cougar Creek in Canmore will have $14 million spent in the short-term, $60 million is going into Kananaskis Country, now another $3.35 million is to be spent on other area creeks and in the MD of Bighorn, $5.8 million more will go into Heart and Exshaw creeks and the Bow at Lac des Arcs.
And much of those dollars are only for short-term work. Clearly, the final tally will be much, much greater.
On the one hand, residents can be pleased that Canmore is being seen as leading the way in preparing area watercourses for future flooding (as per Associate Minister of Recovery and Reconstruction Kyle Fawcett, page 5). On the other hand, everyone should be braced for ongoing costs.
Being that more money will no question be needed in future, Canmore’s council would be prudent in carefully maneuvering through its present budget. In particular, $2.3 million to re-do the old library and create an arts centre is looking like a big ticket item for a relatively small sampling of the population.
Then again, caution will have to be taken and expectations shouldn’t be too great when it comes to millions of dollars likely needed to renovate the former pool. Should millions be poured into the old pool, depending on what comes of public consultation – unlike the climbing wall at Elevation Place, whatever is settled on better be a facility attractive to multiple user groups.
Being that the old daycare site will likely be developed to generate money for flood mitigation work, rather than any form of community space, special interest groups can’t expect space there to be dedicated to them.
It’s coming down to the fact that every group in Canmore cannot have everything – at some point, there simply won’t be enough money to go around. Short of boosting taxes to pay for still more special interest group capital projects, revenue will not be there.
And let’s face it, living in the Bow Valley is expensive enough for most people. Nobody wants to see the cost of living creep further out of the realm of affordability to keep building facilities.
Well done Bow Valley
Kudos to everyone who swung into action to assist the local Filipino community in gathering food, blankets, cash, cans and bottles and other goods to be shipped to the storm ravaged country.
When the Typhoon Haiyan toll reached 4,000 dead, it became apparent that any amount of help would be welcome. Canada’s aid has been upped to $40 million and a 237-member DART (disaster assistance response team) group, but just like remediation work for the June flood in our valley is running into tens of millions of dollars, much more will be needed in the Philippines.
Small communities like those in our valley can’t be expected to respond in a similar grand scale, but as Bow Valley residents always do, a hand is lent when a need is presented.
This kind of community spirit will be welcome as the holiday season approaches and Santa’s Anonymous, Christmas Spirit and other campaigns launch.
