The Feb. 28 Alberta Budget 2025 announcement has come and gone. With it, another opportunity for the city to received funding for the Cenovus Energy Hub.
Earlier this year, Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright MLA Garth Rowswell explained because the project didn’t fall under a specific grant program, “We’d have to wait to see if a projected provincial surplus funded it.”
However, the millions of dollars the city asked for was not included in the provincial document.
City response and plan:
When asked at a recent infrastructure announcement, Mayor Gerald Aalbers was hopeful they may still find funds. They intend to sit down with Rowswell and other ministers to see what the road is going forward.
“We know the province will close their books at the end of March, and we can certainly hope there is some surplus money at the provincial level,” said Aalbers.
“We’ll start the process again and sit down with the provincial government and discuss the needs in the City of Lloydminster and how they can participate in a project we think is very important.”
Back in November, Lloydminster city manager, Dion Pollard, noted they had plans for this situation. But it would have to come back to council if Alberta didn’t come through.
“It takes into consideration. We anticipate we will be able to sell the lots, maybe it takes a little more time than anticipated. Same thing with the fundraising. We have plans in place for all of those situations should they arise,” said Pollard.
“In our perfect world, we get the Alberta funding, the project’s fully funded. If not, we certainly have some challenges we’re prepared for, we’ll bring those to council once we’re aware of what the situation is.”
During that council meeting, over $7 million in unsecured funding was needed for the new facility.
When asked about the lack of funds in the budget, Rowswell had some of the same next steps in mind.
“It wasn’t in there,” said Rowswell. “So I’ll have to figure out what happened and probably have another conversation at that time.”
Regardless of the funding source, developers are on track to complete the Cenovus Energy Hub by the fall.
With files from Christian Apostolovski
Read more: Edmonton Kenworth sponsors Cenovus Energy Hub
Considering the province can barely pay their provincial employees a decent wage, a project like this shouldn’t expect a handout.
Usually a good idea to get all funding in place before you put a shovel in the ground.