Despite a trip to Ottawa to lobby for funding, Clearwater County Reeve Michelle Swanson says the County has so far been unsuccessful in securing key federal dollars to improve the O’Chiese Road.

Swanson, along with Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, Devin Dreeshen, and delegates from the O’Chiese First Nation traveled to the nation’s capital to request the federal government commit to its share of the funding.

Swanson notes the County and the province have already committed their share of the funding for the $24 million project, and now they’re waiting on Ottawa.

“As one of the O’Chiese councillors has mentioned, it is the doorway to their nation,” says Swanson. “It is also the one way in that they feel — with the wildfires last year — it’s critical to make that road more safe and accessible.”

Despite the funding delay, Swanson feels there were some successes on the trip.

“No, we didn’t come back with the cheque that we would’ve liked,” says Swanson. “The success was showing the federal government how different levels of government can work together, especially the municipality and the province”

Swanson points to the success of the Sunchild Road, an earlier project that was completed with equal contributions from all three levels of government.

Swanson adds now that the federal budget has been announced, the County and Minister Dreeshen will once again be pressing the Government to commit to the funding.