Alberta Minister of Infrastructure Prasad Panda at a news conference on $20 million Alberta Legislature grounds project, Friday, May 27, 2022. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Mario Cabradilla

$20 million toward Alberta Legislature grounds improvements

May 27, 2022 | 2:22 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The provincial and federal governments are using $20 million to repair and improve the Alberta Legislature grounds’ water features, walkways and decking.

In an announcement May 27, 2022, Alberta Minister of Infrastructure Prasad Panda said the legislature dome fountain and reflecting pools will be repaired and improved, in addition to the development of new water features and walkways.

“The combined $20-million investment will ensure generations of families will be able to enjoy the legislature plaza area and water features long into the future,” says Panda.

Improvement of the Alberta Legislature grounds will bring the community together, according to Randy Boissonnault, federal Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, on behalf of Dominic LeBlanc, federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.

“The Alberta legislature grounds are so much more than just the seat of government in Alberta’s capital city,” says Boissonnault. “Places like the Alberta Legislature grounds are critical community anchors. They provide a place for residents to connect with each other outside and remain active.”

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According to Infrastructure Canada, the $20 million in funding includes $10 million from the $173 million capital maintenance and renewal budget of government owned facilities, under the Alberta Government’s Budget 2022 Capital Plan.

The remaining $10 million comes from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), which includes $8 million from the Government of Canada through the COVID-19 Resilient Stream of the Investing in Canada Plan, and $2 million from the Government of Alberta.

The COVID-19 Resilient Stream of the Investing in Canada plan “was expanded to support pandemic resilient infrastructure,” said Boissonnault.

He also added that it contributes to the efforts toward building “sustainable, economically healthy, and inclusive communities.”

The Infrastructure Canada website states that the ICIP “is one way the Government of Canada is delivering funding to communities through the Investing in Canada Plan.”

ICIP aims to provide long-term, stable funding to help communities “reduce air and water pollution, provide clean water, increase resilience to climate change and create a clean-growth economy,” as well as build “strong, dynamic and inclusive communities” and improve Canadian families’ quality of life.

Panda says, “This investment will also support about 112 construction-related jobs and boost economic activity right here in Edmonton.”

The project is expected to begin next spring and end by summer 2024.

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