Concerns raised over Sask. irrigation project [Video]

In March, the province announced plans to move forward with the first phase of the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project, a multi-phase, multi-billion-dollar megaproject aiming to irrigate half a million hectares of farmland in the surrounding area.

However, engineering hydrologist Bob Halliday has raised concerns about the project proceeding without the release of economic impact studies that were commissioned.

“As far as we can tell, there’s no project proposal written,” Halliday said. “So it seems bizarre to go ahead in the absence of information. I’m assuming the province has information but is unwilling to share it.”

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According to Patrick Boyle, a spokesperson for the Water Security Agency, the government department driving the project, the studies are still in progress.

“I would say that economic analysis, engineering design, and all of those things are being done right now, …