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A Wildrose government would ensure the final leg of Calgary’s ring road would be completed no later than 2021, with construction starting as early as 2016, party leader Brian Jean announced Wednesday.

Last month’s provincial budget saw the Prentice Tories announce the west leg of the ring road — stretching from 16th Ave. N.W. to Glenmore Trail — would not see construction begin until 2021 due to plummeting oil prices. But the Tories maintain the longer southwest portion running through Tsuu T’ina Nation land would start shortly.

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“We believe our cities deserve better,” Jean told reporters in Calgary. “While we are committing to a timetable of 2017 to 2021, we will consult with the city and the department to see if that can be moved up (by) another year to 2016.”

Jean said the Wildrose would use existing funds from the Municipal Sustainability Initiative as well as allocating the party’s proposed 10/10 MSI plan, which sees municipalities receive 10 per cent of provincial tax revenue and 10 per cent of budget surpluses, to kick-start construction of the long-delayed southwest portion of the road.