Red Deer member of Parliament Earl Dreeshen says spending funds set aside for increasing fish habitat in the Sundre area on flood protection instead is logical.
He visited Sundre on Friday after Sundre councillor Myron Thompson invited him to look at infrastructure and areas that were damaged in town by the 2013 flood.
As well, Thompson made a motion during the meeting on April 7 for a letter to be written to three members of Parliament (MPs), including Blake Richards and Earl Dreeshen, about the cause.
More than $132,000 was set aside from a provincial grant to increase fish habitat in the Bearberry Creek, but Thompson believes it is a poor decision.
Increasing fish habitat in the Sundre area is required as part of the $2.4-million Red Deer Riverbank Stabilization project completed in July of 2012.
“If mitigating some of the problems that are potential and immediate would help by using that funds at this particular point in time that certainly seems like a logical way to go,” Dreeshen told the Round Up.
“I know that this is an issue that the MP from this area, Blake Richards, is also seized with. So I'm certainly prepared to work alongside to see that this is addressed.”
Town staff, councillors and representatives from the chamber of commerce met with Dreeshen on Friday to discuss issues in Sundre.
Town officials then took him to Coyote Creek, 10th Street, Foothills Lodge and Greenwood Campground to discuss the aftermath of the 2013 flood.
Dreeshen was interested in seeing how the flood impacted Sundre, as he was actually in Sundre when the river peaked in June, he said.
During his visit last week, town officials explained what happened during the 2005 flood as well as the 2013 flood.
Jim Hall, gas manager with the town, said the gas line feeding the east side of town that runs underneath the bridge was damaged during the 2013 flood. He said if it broke, the east side of town could have gone without a gas supply for six months.
As well, town officials applied for a $3.4-million provincial grant to build a 3.9-kilometre-long berm, in a joint application with Mountain View County. It was approved at $3,132,500, so the town and the county have to pick up the rest of the funds, according to Wanda Watson-Neufeld, the town's director of corporate services.
She said Sundre taxpayers should not have to pay for the berm. Town officials believe it is the province's responsibility.
Mike Beukeboom, president of the chamber of commerce, said provincial officials aren't listening to Sundreites. During the flood information session held in Sundre in March, provincial officials handed out pamphlets describing what people should do in an emergency situation.
“Nobody is listening to us,” said Beukeboom. “We're from Sundre. We know what to do. Put your boots on and get to work.”
Dreeshen has been visiting other communities in the area as well, such as Olds and Carstairs, as well as communities in Red Deer County.
He taught for Chinook's Edge School Division for several years and is familiar with the area.
“To be a candidate and a member of Parliament for this area is certainly something that – I cherish having that opportunity,” said Dreeshen.
“And that the new federal riding is going to be changing for the next election I thought it was important to come out and meet some of the people from the community and be able to see what the needs actually are.”
Dreeshen has thrown in his name to run in the upcoming 2015 federal election when his longstanding riding will be split in two. He has been the Red Deer riding's member of Parliament since 2008 and will run in the southern half of the old riding, which will be called Red Deer-Mountain View.
The Red Deer riding was altered following the establishment and study of the 2012 Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Alberta.
With the new riding, Dreeshen could represent citizens in Mountain View County, including Olds, Didsbury, Carstairs and Sundre. He will also represent citizens in Innisfail, Penhold, Bowden, Spruce View, Markerville, Dickson, Delburne, Elnora, Lousana, Pine Lake, Sylvan Lake, Benalto and Red Deer County.
With files from Johnnie Bachusky
