'Not giving any additional dollars': Province critical of climbing cost of Calgary's Green Line
A letter from Alberta's transportation minister to Calgary's mayor makes it clear the province won't provide additional dollars to the Green Line LRT project, but it also says the city has to integrate the new CTrain line into the province's master rail plan.
The letter to the city comes ahead of a June update on the $5.5 billion mega project in which the public will learn about potential cost overruns.
In his letter, Devin Dreeshen affirms the province's $1.53 billion commitment to the Green Line, but says there will be nothing for phase one beyond that.
"No additional funding will be available from the province for this project," reads the letter from the transportation minister.
"Secondly, the provincial funding is contingent on the City's Green Line being fully integrated with the province's recently announced master rail plan which is scheduled to for release next year," the letter continues.
Construction on the Green Line has been ongoing in Calgary for months. The LRT line is planned to run from Shepard in the southeast to Eau Claire, including a tunnel under downtown.
The province's new condition is "concerning," says Calgary's mayor.
"You can tinker with toy trains on your table all day long and try to come up with a plan," said Jyoti Gondek.
"We've got construction underway on the Green Line. So the Green Line, having to comply with a fictitious plan is going to mean opening up that contract," she added.
City officials have previously said they've cut project costs by about $400 million, but councillors acknowledge the budget is likely to climb beyond that.
"So it's inevitable that that the costs will escalate," said Andre Chabot, the councillor for Ward 10.
"How that gets covered -- whether we do it through debt financing or other means -- I think the plan is that we're moving ahead one way or another."
Premier Danielle Smith said Thursday she'd like to see the city reconsider its plans for the Green Line's route, including whether it should be built at-grade instead of underground.
"I've been very clear, I thought they made a mistake in the tunneling project that is the most expensive part of the project," Smith said.
"If it needs to be re-scoped, so that they can do it within their budget, then we would expect them to do so," she added.
An exact date of the Green Line's first phase completion hasn't been set, but it's estimated it will be sometime around 2030.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada outlines national action plan to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Michael Cohen says he stole from Trump's company as defence presses key hush money trial witness
Former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen admitted Monday to jurors in the Republican's hush money trial that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from Trump's company as defence lawyers seized on the star witness' misdeeds to attack his credibility.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
Canucks' Brock Boeser out for decisive Game 7 vs. Oilers: coach
Canucks star Brock Boeser will miss Game 7 of Vancouver's second-round playoff series Monday against the Edmonton Oilers, according to reports.
Investors watching posts from 'Crypto King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.