The Community
Press Volume 113, Issue 30
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
$1 Including GST
KeystoneXL cancelled by US Presidential order Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Just hours after the inauguration of US President Joe Biden, he fulfilled one of his election promises and pulled the permits for the US portion of the KeystoneXL project. The project is an expansion of the existing Keystone pipeline, expanding and rerouting to connect Hardisty (where the present Keystone pipeline also starts) to Steele City, where it would tie in to the existing line, increasing capacity of the system. TC Energy Corporation, the project owner, made an announcement hours before, saying it’s disappointed with the expected action to revoke the permit. “The decision would overturn an unprecedented, comprehensive regulatory process that lasted more than a decade and repeatedly concluded the pipeline would transport much-needed energy in an environmentally responsible way while enhancing North American energy security.” The company further said the revoca-
tion of the permit would lead to the layoff of thousands of union workers and negatively impact ground-breaking industry commitments to use new renewable energy (announced days before) as well as historic equity partnerships with Indigenous communities.” TC Energy suspended advancement of the project Wednesday, Jan. 20, ending its statement with an optimistic statement. “Our base business continues to perform very well and, aside from Keystone XL, we are advancing $25 billion of secured capital projects along with a robust portfolio of other similarly high quality opportunities under development,” said François Poirier, TC Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Hardisty Council released the following statement: “In the short term the Town of Hardisty’s businesses would have seen a direct effect from the construction and commissioning component of the project. “Contract companies and sub trades spend money in our community via the services that our local businesses pro-
Culvert replacement work underway on Highway 13 near Killam
Workers are busy on a culvert replacement on Highway 13 near Killam, part of the provinceʼs 2020 Construction Program.
vide via accommodations, eating, consumable supplies, and local contractor services and supplies used during these two phases. “While these “mini booms” provide a boost to our local businesses the spin off of the Keystone XL project for the long term would come not so much in a boom format but on a maintenance side. “Perhaps, the TC Energy terminal would employee a few more operators to operate the Keystone line at a local level which could produce an attraction to the area with new families. “We always look forward to the mini boom projects of this nature which give our community and the surrounding area a lift to sustain them over the periods when activity is less. “While the long term benefits are more provincially and nationally born with widespread jobs and trade seen through project expansion and the development of the new technology that goes into the sale and supply of our energy. “The long term benefits help everyone. The Town of Hardisty has done
long-term planning to be prepared to take on new growth when it comes in any form or outcome, whether it be the spin off from a large project from any of our industrial stakeholders or from another new source of economic development.” Premier Jason Kenney had a strong reaction to the revocation, saying “The United States is our most important ally and trading partner. Amongst all of the Canadian provinces, Alberta has the deepest economic ties to the United States with $100 billion worth of exports, and strong social connections that go back over a century. “As friends and allies of the United States, we are deeply disturbed that one of President Biden’s first actions in office has been to rescind the Presidential permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline border crossing. “My thoughts are with the 2,000 people who lost their jobs today, and all those who are coping with the devastating consequences of this decision.” Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley See KEYSTONE P26
Flagstaff Economic Development department reports to Council Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Flagstaff County Council heard a comprehensive review from the Economic Development Department head Kristy Jackson and team member Jenalee Waring during its Jan. 13 regular meeting. Jackson noted that the department has continued to implement plans that meet the Strategic Plan and priorities approved by Council in 2019. Jackson said 2020-21 projects fell into three main categories, being business services during COVID-19, citizen retention, and tourism/regional collaboration. Jackson said one focus for 2021 would be coming up with results-based management to work towards providing quantifiable measures for every plan. “In 2021, that data and metrics will be attached to reporting.” Jackson presented an overview of present and past programs under the business services and COVID-19 responses. These included: 2020 Jared Smith
workshops/webinar, with 32 participants; the Flagstaff Region Featured Business Program partnership with The Community Press, developed in 2017 and ongoing through 2021; a new program rolling out in 2021 called the Flagstaff Region Succession Program; another new program for 2021 called Flagstaff Grows; COVID-19 programs through the Battle River Economic Opportunity Committee (BREOC); business strategy sessions with marketing expert Amanda Wagner in 2020 and ongoing in 2021; a new Flagstaff Crafted digital Gift Guide that had great success. Also in the report were new projects, one called “Intent to Buy Local,” dealing with value-added agriculture; an Ec. Dev. plan to apply for grant funding under a new Community Capacity Newcomer Integration program, another new project called Succeeding Together; a new Go Local campaign to roll out in 2021, as well as the ongoing Youth Development Innovation MasterClass project, and an update on the Broadband project’s next steps. See EC.DEV. P9