Partial ring road opening in Calgary once again disrupted by Indigenous protester
After more than five years of planning and construction, the final section of the southwest Calgary ring road opened to traffic Saturday.
The stretch connects Highway 8 to Macleod Trail S.E., and accounts for approximately 20 per cent of the entire highway.
The section is about 31 kilometres in length.
But as the portion was unveiled and officially opened to traffic, a massive deal between the province and the Tsuut’ina Nation was once again called into question.
An Indigenous man who says he was displaced by construction rushed the podium to remind Calgarians that not everyone in the nation is on board with the agreement.
Seth Cardinal Dodginghorse had similar remarks during another unveiling in October 2020, when he made headlines for chopping off his braids in a show of mourning.
"Just because you name a road the Tsuut’ina Trail, that does not mean that harm hasn't been done," he said. "I challenge the Tsuut’ina people to fight for the land, to fight for our treaty rights and more. We deserve more."
In 2013, the nation agreed to allow the highway in exchange for $340 million and 5,000 acres of Crown land. The decision was also put to a referendum that showed an overwhelmingly majority in favour of the project.
"Our legal obligation is the minimum obligation, and I'm of the opinion we went beyond that," former transportation minister Ric McIver told CTV News.
"We also have to respect the wisdom of the elders who blessed this road, we have to respect the wisdom of the knowledge keepers, we have to respect the wisdom of the chief and council," Mayor Naheed Nenshi said. "The opening of this section of our ring road is an important link for our city's future growth and transport infrastructure."
Dodginghorse disagrees. On Saturday, he once again asked drivers to avoid the stretch.
In total, the southwest leg cost more than $1.4 billion to build.
Once it is fully complete, the ring road will consist of 101 kilometres of free-flow travel.
The final section, known as the west Calgary ring road, is expected to open in 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.