John Vandenberg, MLA Nathan Neudorf, Minister Dreeshen and Klaas VanderVeen

By Connor Gunn

Province provides Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District with over $1 million for upkeep

Aug 5, 2020 | 1:59 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB– Irrigation money continues to flow to Southwestern Alberta, as part of the province’s $10-million Irrigation Rehabilitation Program.

During the pandemic, the $1.1 million will improve infrastructure to provide water for irrigation and agricultural operations, municipal use, recreation, wildlife and habitat enhancement.

Adding to the many different irrigation projects to be started shortly, the Canadian and Albertan governments gifted nearly $40 million for three new irrigation-based projects are on the way for Taber and one for the Raymond area.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Devin Dreeshen, said the financing would offer multiple benefits.

“Irrigation infrastructure is critical to economic stability in southern Alberta. This grant will increase great-producing irrigated farmland by conserving water and increasing water efficiency through pipelines. We were elected to deliver on jobs, the economy and pipelines and this project supports all three.”

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Dreeshen was also asked why Alberta needs these new projects during a time like right now.

“Why focus on irrigation and why invest in it? – it’s something that we, as a province, through Alberta’s recovery plan, have set up sector-specific strategies and agriculture is one of them.”

“When it comes to irrigation, there’s huge economic potential. I know there’s been lots of studies that have indicated that every dollar you invest in irrigation will produce about three dollars in economic return.”

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