Funding from the provincial government for a regional waterline has been cut. The Town of Bonnyville received word from Finance Minister Robin Campbell that cuts had to be made and the province was only moving forward with commitments that were previously made, such as building ring roads in Edmonton and Calgary, as well as improvements to Highway 63.
Mayor of Bonnyville, Gene Sobolewski says he is disappointed and believes water is a more immediate need. When speaking of the ring roads Mayor Sobolewski says, “I believe that some of those things can be deferred it should be. Rather than doing it in two years, they should do it in five. Water should be more important.”
The Town of Bonnyville, MD of Bonnyville, City of Cold Lake, and Cold Lake First Nations have been in a three year battle over funding with the provincial government. The area needs a regional waterline to bring water from Cold Lake to the area. Currently, Bonnyville draws its water from Moose Lake, which is not a sustainable or clean source of water.
Mayor Sobolewski says he and the town will continue to “advocate and push the provincial government for funding.” He urges residents to push their local politicians and work to keep the waterline on the top of their priorities list.