Other Canadian municipal and provincial news

[AlbertC]

Creating a new thread for news on other Canadian municipalities or provinces outside Toronto/Ontario, that doesn't necessarily associate directly on the federal level of government.

Calgary water emergency: Mayor cautions July 5 completion date ‘best-case estimate’ | Globalnews.ca

Mayor Jyoti Gondek cautioned Calgarians that there could still be delays or unplanned setbacks as city crews aim to have water flowing as usual by July 5.

globalnews.ca

Calgary water emergency: Mayor cautions July 5 completion date ‘best-case estimate’​

Mayor Jyoti Gondek cautioned Calgarians that there could still be delays or unplanned setbacks as city crews aim to have water flowing as usual by July 5.

In Wednesday afternoon’s update on the two-week-old Calgary water crisis, the city said regular water supply will likely be restored on the earlier end of the timeline estimate – in about three weeks rather than five. Michael Thompson, general manager of infrastructure services, said that means repairs could be completed by July 5.

In a video statement Thursday morning, Gondek said there is still a lot of work to be done before Calgarians can go back to normal water usage, and that the July 5 goal is a “best-case estimate at this point in time.”

“We have to be prepared that a potential site may require a bit more of a repair than we expected or that water testing is going to take a little bit more time,” she said.

“I want you all to be prepared for these changes to the schedule as we continue to learn more about the progress that we’re making.

“The timeline for completion will come into sharper and sharper focus as this repair work continues.”

Gondek wanted to outline just how much work remains to be done. She said work is well underway to repair five hot spots along the feeder main where robotic inspection showed the wires on the outside of the pipe were losing strength.

All of the pipe pieces needed for the repairs are in the city. Gondek said three are ready to go and two are being sandblasted and coated with epoxy.

All of the sections of pipe in need of repair have been uncovered and work started Wednesday to cut out the sections identified as hot spots, Gondek said.

Once the pipe is repaired, crews will need to repave 16th Avenue Northwest. From there, the line will need to be flushed and the water will need to be tested to ensure it’s safe to drink.

“We rely on Alberta Health Services to give us the all-clear in that regard,” Gondek said.

She said 454 million litres of water was used on Wednesday, putting Calgarians on a five-day streak of staying well below the threshold set out by the city.

Gondek said another update would be provided at 2 p.m. local time on Thursday.

 

[lenaitch]

Creating a new thread for news on other Canadian municipalities or provinces outside Toronto/Ontario, that doesn't necessarily associate directly on the federal level of government.

Calgary water emergency: Mayor cautions July 5 completion date ‘best-case estimate’ | Globalnews.ca

Mayor Jyoti Gondek cautioned Calgarians that there could still be delays or unplanned setbacks as city crews aim to have water flowing as usual by July 5.

globalnews.ca

Calgary water emergency: Mayor cautions July 5 completion date ‘best-case estimate’​

Mayor Jyoti Gondek cautioned Calgarians that there could still be delays or unplanned setbacks as city crews aim to have water flowing as usual by July 5.

In Wednesday afternoon’s update on the two-week-old Calgary water crisis, the city said regular water supply will likely be restored on the earlier end of the timeline estimate – in about three weeks rather than five. Michael Thompson, general manager of infrastructure services, said that means repairs could be completed by July 5.

In a video statement Thursday morning, Gondek said there is still a lot of work to be done before Calgarians can go back to normal water usage, and that the July 5 goal is a “best-case estimate at this point in time.”

“We have to be prepared that a potential site may require a bit more of a repair than we expected or that water testing is going to take a little bit more time,” she said.

“I want you all to be prepared for these changes to the schedule as we continue to learn more about the progress that we’re making.

“The timeline for completion will come into sharper and sharper focus as this repair work continues.”

Gondek wanted to outline just how much work remains to be done. She said work is well underway to repair five hot spots along the feeder main where robotic inspection showed the wires on the outside of the pipe were losing strength.

All of the pipe pieces needed for the repairs are in the city. Gondek said three are ready to go and two are being sandblasted and coated with epoxy.

All of the sections of pipe in need of repair have been uncovered and work started Wednesday to cut out the sections identified as hot spots, Gondek said.

Once the pipe is repaired, crews will need to repave 16th Avenue Northwest. From there, the line will need to be flushed and the water will need to be tested to ensure it’s safe to drink.

“We rely on Alberta Health Services to give us the all-clear in that regard,” Gondek said.

She said 454 million litres of water was used on Wednesday, putting Calgarians on a five-day streak of staying well below the threshold set out by the city.

Gondek said another update would be provided at 2 p.m. local time on Thursday.

That break was in a main trunk line in the vicinity of 2 metres in diameter. The adage of 'if you can be a shining example, at least be a dire warning' comes to mind, or at least should to other municipalities with aging infrastructure.

 

[AlbertC]

Canada Day parade in Montreal cancelled, 'political divide' to blame

The annual Canada Day parade in Montreal has been cancelled less than two weeks before the event, due to alleged bureaucratic issues between the organizer and the city. The event’s organizer, Nicholas Cowen, claims “difficulties with local government leaders” were to blame when trying to...

montreal.citynews.ca

Canada Day parade in Montreal cancelled, ‘political divide’ to blame​

The annual Canada Day parade in Montreal has been cancelled less than two weeks before the event, due to alleged bureaucratic issues between the organizer and the city.

The event’s organizer, Nicholas Cowen, claims “difficulties with local government leaders” were to blame when trying to coordinate the July 1 parade that’s been held since 1977.

Cowen issued a statement Wednesday on the parade’s website saying he’s seen “escalating difficulty when securing permits, funding, and overarching approval from the appropriate government authorities.”

“I thought it was directed at me alone first because of politics. I needed outside help from the offices of different elected officials in different levels of government to make the parade go last year,” Cowen said.

Cowen said he has been met with rules that change at the last moment and requests that make putting on the parade “virtually impossible.”

“These cancellations and mishaps of events hurt business owners and their employees,” he said in the press release. “When customers and tourists do not even come, your business’ and jobs ultimately suffer.”

Cowen claims that last year, the federal government requested parts of the parade be removed entirely and reduced their budget significantly.

The City of Montreal issued CityNews with a statement saying the developer had not submitted a request to the city though they remain available to work with him in the future.

In the statement, a spokesperson for the City of Montreal said: “Last year’s parade faced significant logistical challenges that the city had to overcome to ensure that the event took place.”

The parade is usually held on Ste-Catherine Street in downtown Montreal and typically draws a crowd of about 120,000 people.

In the release, Cowen said organizers of immigrant or English-speaking based events had also experienced issues when dealing with the City of Montreal.

“From what I experienced last year and when I see badly timed mishaps at big international events, the West Island and other events, I become less surprised.”

Cowen says the loss of this year’s event is “no doubt a strike on Canadian Culture.”

It’s not yet known if the event will take place next year, though Cowen says he remains hopeful. The City says Montrealers will be able to take part in Canada Day festivities in the Old Port.

 

[AlbertC]

Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire​

JASPER, ALTA. - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have burned in a wildfire.

"You've seen the images as I have,” Smith said Thursday.

“We’re seeing potentially 30 to 50 per cent structural damage to give you some idea.

“We don't know which structures have been damaged and which ones have been destroyed, but that's going to be a significant rebuild."

Smith made the comments after fighting back tears at a news conference as she sought to console residents who were evacuated from the townsite and now face significant hardship when they return.

“We share the sense of loss with all of those who live in the town, who care for it, and who have helped build it,” Smith said.

“And to those in Alberta and around the world who have experienced the magic of Jasper: The magic is not lost, and it never will be.”

Parks Canada, in a statement said it will provide details on lost structures when it can accurately and responsibly confirm what burned. But it says crews continue to battle a swift and dynamic fire in Jasper National Park.

Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have burned in a wildfire.

edmonton.ctvnews.ca

 

[DSC]

TransLink warns half of transit services could be cut without more funding​

A report to the mayors' council Thursday says those cuts could include eliminating the WestCoast Express.

See: https://vancouversun.com/news/translink-warns-half-services-cut-without-funding