Nearly 900 letters supporting the need to review the Springbank off-stream reservoir (SR1) and to give further consideration to a McLean Creek project (MC1) were presented to Banff-Kanananski MLA Miranda Rosin this morning at the Redwood Meadows House.

Rosin accepted the letters from spokesperson Karin Hunter, president of the Springbank Community Association, and will be presenting them to the Legislative Assembly during its fall sitting.

Hunter says the letters send the important message that those who stand in opposition to SR1 do matter and shouldn't be marginalized. Springbank, Bragg Creek, Redwood Meadows, Rocky View county and Tsuut'ina Nation all stand opposed to SR1.

She believes support continues to grow as more people question the SR1 project.

"I think for a long time people here have felt marginally by the process. People were very frustrated because they didn't believe there was much they could do to change the fate of this project. Now that it is stalled in meeting the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency we are looking at this as an opportunity to reframe the discussion from what it has traditionally been. People have rallied behind this. You can see the energy and enthusiasm that went into this campaign, so that's great."

Redwood FloodThe flooding in Redwood Meadows on June 20, 2013 would have been more severe if quick action wasn't taken by the community. (Photo/Noel Edey)

Hunter says McLean Creek solution offers much more than flood mitigation. It would also aid with fire suppression and enhance recreational and tourism opportunities. This, she believes, is an offer the government shouldn't refuse.

"We're ready to have that next level dialogue to progress to water management, rather than just flood management. If you get Ric McIver and Jason Kenney to start thinking about a half-billion-dollar investment as an opportunity for legacy water management projects rather than just flood mitigation for the City of Calgary that's a huge win."

During a morning press conference, Premier Jason Kenney said if the federal regulator says 'no' to SR1 then the province is right back to the drawing board. He heavily referenced the objection filed by the Tsuut'ina First Nation and its possible impact on federal approval. 

"We're going to have to follow this closely because there are alternative proposals and if it looks like the feds aren't going to give approval or there is no timely way to resolve the First Nation's objection then we will have to look at other projects. The bottom line is we need flood mitigation for Calgary. We cannot allow the big flood to happen again."

While the Alberta Government currently stands behind SR1, it hasn't attempted to quash MLA Rosin's determination to stand up for her constituents. 

"My colleagues and the minister continually offer me encouragement to represent my constituencies. Our government is quite committed to doing things differently than a lot of past governments have. I think people have become really disenfranchised from the government because they don't get the representation they need."

Rosin supported the idea of a letter-writing campaign when Hunter sought her feedback in June.

"I think it's a great start and there are more signatures than I realized when I came here today. It's incredible.

MLA Miranda RosinMLA Miranda Rosin shows the massive number of letters presented to her today by MC1 proponents.

"The sheer number and the fact that these aren't just signed petitions, these are written in-depth letters [that] show how the communities have become so united around the issue."

She says the government will have to wait and see what decision is made by CEAA before taking any action but believes the position of the MC1 proponents and their steady stream of grass-roots initiatives have been catching the notice of government officials.

The bottom line for Rosin is everyone deserves to flood mitigation.

"Whether it's McLean Creek or whether it's a new option that comes out of the blue that we haven't seen yet, really what I'm fighting for is flood protection and flood mitigation for everybody [and that includes] Calgary, Redwood Meadows, Bragg Creek, Springbank and anybody in the surrounding area. I think everybody out here deserves to be saved from what happened in 2013. We want to make sure nobody has to go through that again."

Hunter says Rosin's integrity of sticking to her guns on a promise made during the spring election is respected.

"You have to admire someone who sticks to their principles," says Hunter.

"I'm sure there is a lot of pressure on her in Edmonton and the fact that she has stuck with it tells a lot about her integrity. We have a lot of respect for her ethics."

She also believes the Alberta Government has learned from the mistakes they made from reaching the SR1 decision. She points to the consultation that has begun on additional water management for the Bow River.

"They're having public consultations, they've clearly laid out the three options, they're meeting with stakeholders and they're gathering feedback before they make a decision, which is what they didn't do here."

In the meantime, the Springbank association continues to accept letters in opposition to the SR1 and is aiming to collect 1,000 before the fall sitting of the Legislative Assembly.