The recently announced $10 billion investment in Albertan infrastructure from the provincial government will see over $6 million in projects here in the Foothills in the near future.

The Town of Okotoks will be receiving nearly $5.5 million dollars for the Water Treatment Plant, and around $1.2 million will be invested in two bridge projects in the Foothills area.

Absent from the list is the Okotoks water pipeline, a much anticipated project that is intended to address the town's water needs.

Highwood MLA RJ Sigurdson says he's been regularly advocating for the project, but it just hadn't reached the point where funding can be discussed.

"It isn't ready yet, they're still in the design and engineering phase, but my hope is that they'll get through that strategic planning part and get it to a point where they've completed that end and they've got the costs in place so we can try to bring that as a shovel-ready project that we can move forward on. That is one that is incredibly important for the growth of the Highwood area."

Sigurdson estimates the investments will generate around 100 jobs in Okotoks alone, with an estimated 50,000 province-wide.

He says the province's larger projects aren't the only ones that deserve attention.

"You know, you talk about Keystone XL or the twinning of the highway down in the Taber area, but these investments aren't just large investments, there's a commitment to spreading this investment throughout all the communities through the province."

Along with infrastructure projects, provincial money will also be invested in other economic sectors in an effort to diversify Alberta's economy. Technology, pharmaceuticals, rare earth minerals, aviation, tourism, and arts & culture have all been named as areas of interest relating to Alberta's recovery plan.

Sigurdson says the goal is to set the stage for economic recovery, and some money has to be spent in doing so.

"We talk about it a lot in government; there's good and bad debt. Some of this of course is going to create a bit of debt, but investments in our infrastructure are something we have to build, these are things that improve our economy. To me, that's good debt."

 

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