MLA for Drumheller -Stettler Nate Horner is encouraged to see mobilization for the Keystone Excel pipeline.
Last week equipment began arriving in the area to begin construction on the pipeline that is designed to take Alberta crude to US markets. When completed it is designed to deliver 830,000 barrels per day (Bbl/day) of crude oil from Hardisty, Alberta, to Steele City, Nebraska. From there, Alberta oil can be transported to refineries at the US Gulf Coast.
Alberta construction is ramping up. In the Drumheller-Stettler riding, there will be work from Hardisty to Empress and then into Saskatchewan before crossing the international border.
Horner met on Friday with the Mayor of Oyen and TC Energy to learn more about the project.
He says there has already been work on the controversial pipeline in the United States.
“There is a lot of good piece being done right now,” he said, adding there are still some court challenges south of the border.
The pipeline was in the news a couple of weeks ago when presidential candidate Joe Biden said if he is elected in the fall, he would kill the project.
“It is always a concern and the premier and cabinet were always aware there is a political risk,” said Horner. “The dollars spent on the construction alone locally is something like $350 million over the next two years.”
He adds this means a large number of workers.
“I have spoken to people who have vacant houses in Oyen that already have them rented out for two years,” he said. “The hotels are going to be full and there are going to be big camps as well. As long as we can work around COVID, it is going to be great for these small towns.”
This is not the only large scale project in the area. Special Areas is working on a water project as is Acadia Valley.
He explains that if completed, the Acadia Valley would convert about 27,000 acres into irrigatable land.
“The Acadia Valley Irrigation Valley Irrigation Project is probably the most exciting and urgent,” said Horner.

GenNow is a committee made up of about 9 people to address issues and concerns of millennials in the valley. Councillor Kristyne DeMott, was joined by fellow committee members Ryan Semchuk and Riddel Wiebe to read this statement on ending racial discrimination:

“On behalf of the Millennial Committee known as ‘GenNow’ I am honoured to be speaking the committee’s statement of support for the Black Lives Matter Movement within these council chambers here today.

This is about people. People all over the world striving for equality that is embarrassingly still gapped. This is true for the Drumheller Valley as well.

Racism, injustice, and violence from organized systems needs to stop. We believe in every human’s right to be treated with respect and equality, and the right to live without fear. We stand in solidarity. But we know just speaking about injustice isn't enough.

All of us here know that we must build diversity and justice into the foundation of our community and not tolerate hate of any kind. No one expects this to be realized overnight. The breadth of the protests across the world is a testament to what has gone wrong, but also a promise that change is possible.

Mistakes will be made. But progress can and must be made, too.

This world is for everyone. Our valley is for everyone. We cannot stop until every person is welcomed equally.

Today and every day, Black Lives Matter.”

We Stand up to support People of Colour.
Signed, GenNow