Speakers express concerns over Saskatoon Freeway Project

Not everyone is agreeing with the proposed future Saskatoon Freeway Project, including one person who cited a Christian story about the apocalypse from the Book of Revelation to make her case.

At Saskatoon City Council’s regular business meeting Monday, 10 speakers took to the podium to discuss the Freeway Project Update. On Oct. 7, the provincially funded project’s Phase 1 was presented to council, unveiling a re-aligned draft design in Saskatoon’s northwest area.

A connection between the Saskatoon Freeway with Highway’s 11 and 12, would allow an overpass across Millar Avenue. Highway 11 would become a direct extension of Wanuskewin Road.

During Monday’s discussion, nine of the 10 speakers opposed the project, citing environmental impact concerns, including two Grade 7 students from Dr. John G. Egnatoff School.

“We need to take action on (the Freeway Project),” said student Abhinav Menon after addressing council. “The generation that’s in school today, we are learning a lot more about this (climate) crisis than adults have learned. I hope that we can make a change.”

What Menon was referring to was the project’s proposed route through the Northeast Swale nature and wildlife preserve, an ecologically diverse ecosystem.

Menon was not alone at the podium, as fellow student Kate Deptuch joined to deliver the presentation. Deptuch said if the Freeway does end up happening, it wouldn’t be something to be proud of.

“I would honestly feel disappointed. After all (we’ve done) and it’s still up. (It) shows how much people don’t care about the environment anymore.”

Other speakers also expressed their concerns in the short environmental assessments, and called for the project to be “scrapped” or to “go back to the drawing board.”

Jan Norris, the Green Party candidate for the Saskatoon—University riding in the latest election, was also one of the speakers voicing their displeasure with the possible “big mistake” that the project is creating. She said “scientists are saying that the earth is at a tipping point,” and had a grim outlook on the ecological impact concerns.

“It may be that we have already delayed for too long. It may be that we have backed ourselves against a cliff, and the four horsemen of the apocalypse are racing toward us and we are going to fall.”

Norris concluded in calling for the project to be scrapped, saying the project wouldn’t create any help for traffic congestion, and warned of “ecoscide.”

The one speaker that didn’t oppose the project was Andrew Shaw, Research and Policy Analyst of the North Saskatoon Business Association (NSBA).

He said they were encouraged by the cooperation level between the city and the province, and listed benefits he’s seen through the NSBA’s eyes.

“This Freeway will ease congestion on Circle Drive, particularly where regular automobile traffic is fighting for space with commercial and industrial traffic. This will have benefits for the entire community.”

Shaw said transportation cost savings, continuous traffic flows, emissions reduction and safety were the key benefits with the Saskatoon Freeway.

Acting Deputy Mayor Sarina Gersher said she shares the concerns about the environmental impact around the project. She would like to see more specifics on the natural environment impacts.

Mayor Charlie Clark was absent, as he attends the CityLab DC conference in Washington, D.C. Ann Iwanchuk was also absent, due to the sudden passing of her father, while Councillors Cynthia Block, Darren Hill and Zach Jeffries were teleconferenced in for the meeting.

Counc. Randy Donauer said there is still time for consultation on the long-term project, and just the general alignment and the speed of the Freeway has been set.

Counc. Mairan Loewen added there is “no singular decision point” for the city of Saskatoon on the file, and that makes it difficult to decide where to be effective in answering questions and making decisions.

Counc. Troy Davies thanked the provincial government for investing in Saskatoon, and asked speakers to reach out to MLA’s with their concerns.

No date has been set for official approval of the project as of yet. The second phase of the project will be unveiled in 2020.