The water pipelines from alternative water sources snake their way to Prince Albert’s water treatment plant. Photo by Chelsea Laskowski
The City of Prince Albert says it’s taking steps to recoup money from Husky Energy for the recent oil spill’s effect on a wide range of people and activities.
The extra labour and material costs of constructing the two water pipelines that are bringing alternative water sources to the city will be included in the bills that Prince Albert sends to Husky, the City said in a new release issued on Wednesday.
It’s enlisted the help of Deloitte financial firm to assist in the claims process. There are already several millions of dollars to be reimbursed, the City said.
Everyone from lifeguards at the Kinsmen Water Park who lost weeks worth of wages, to those who are running the City’s emergency command centre, will be compensated
In total, 35 full and part time lifeguards were temporarily laid off.
“The majority of the staff is students that rely on their wages earned during the summer to pay for tuition and living costs in the fall when they return to school. The City is doing their part to make sure they are taken care of and we have no doubt that Husky will then reimburse us for the lost hours to our staff and facilities during the oil spill situation,” Mayor Greg Dionne is quoted as saying in the release.
Meanwhile, the reopening of the Kinsmen Water Park is slated for Friday. The main pool will be closed all summer, due to an unrelated leak that’s been detected.
The Saskatchewan Penitentiary is also able to tap back into the City’s water supply, two weeks after water service was suspended to third party services like the Rural Municipalities around Prince Albert.