The province says the $4 billion project will more than double the irrigable land in Saskatchewan but First Nations have worries.(Water Security Agency)

By Glenn Hicks

land and water

First Nations ‘alarmed’ at lack of consultation on Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project

Feb 15, 2021 | 8:00 AM

The Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) is adding its voice of concern about the proposed $4 billion Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation project. It will encompass a half-million-acre crescent of land running from the west and southwest of Saskatoon through to the northeast of Regina.

First Nations leaders say there has yet to be meaningful dialogue with the province on the three-phase project announced in July, 2020. Meanwhile, the government says it will follow the Duty to Consult, which is expected to start soon.

First Nations want detailed analysis

As part of a media release issued this week, PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte said an analysis of how the project may further impact the whole Saskatchewan River delta needs to be undertaken. He said upstream dams had already altered and threatened biodiversity upstream.

“Water security, healthy wildlife and a healthy environment are foundations of First Nations health, culture, food security, and way of life. The Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project will impact lands and waters throughout many First Nations territories across Saskatchewan and across multiple Treaty territories and Provinces,” he said in the release.

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Earlier this month the province announced Regina-based Clifton Associates Ltd. had been selected to begin engineering work for the Westside Irrigation Project. It said the firm’s work will encompass the first stage of the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Expansion – the largest infrastructure project in Saskatchewan’s history, which is being undertaken in order to double the amount of irrigable land in the province.

A map showing the three main stages of the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project. The areas marked in light purple and yellow will be the first to be completed.(Water Security Agency)

However, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) said it was alarmed no meaningful engagement or consultation had yet to take place and added it appeared the government had moved forward on the project with no plan to engage with them regarding Treaty Rights and their traditional ecological knowledge and firsthand experience on the land.

“Irrigation projects have the potential to have widespread and devastating impacts on soils, water availability and quality, ecosystem health, and wildlife,” the FSIN said, in part, in the media release.

Government response

Asked for comment by paNOW, SaskBuilds Minister Jim Reiter said consultation will happen.

“The government will follow the Duty to Consult Process. That is an important part of the work Clifton and Associates will be doing. Clifton will assess environmental impacts and appropriate processes will be followed,” Reiter said in an emailed statement.

On Feb.4, the province announced Clifton’s team would start work immediately to complete the overall engineering preliminary design for Phases 1 and 2. Their work is expected to take 12 to 18 months, and will inform the next phases of work such as preliminary engineering designs, geotechnical and environmental aspects.

It said the company would play a central role in the extensive consultations with First Nations and other stakeholders, “which will also start in the near future.” No specific timeframe for the talks was given.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow