In a historic decision that could finally end more than five decades of traffic and political gridlock, members of the Tsuu T’ina Nation have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the province’s multi-million dollar southwest ring road proposal, multiple sources say.



The official results of the band referendum that was held on Thursday are set to be released on Friday.



Sources said late Thursday that about 900 band members voted, with close to 650 band members voting in favour of the deal.



“The people spoke, they spoke with one heart today,” said a Tsuu T’ina source.



“They decided the future steps together.”



Tsuu T’ina Nation Chief Roy Whitney has previously said he’ll address the vote on Friday.



When contacted late Thursday, the press secretary for Transportation Minister Ric McIver declined to comment on word of the results.



Parker Hogan said the Alberta government will release the full deal later on Friday.



“The (vote) is over and we’ll await the comment from the chief tomorrow and as we’ve promised, Minister McIver will speak to the media to respond to that – and as we promised, we’ll be releasing the entire proposed agreement,” he said.



Premier Alison Redford and McIver have also scheduled a news conference for Friday afternoon.



The deal is a major step forward in the decades-long path toward building the southwest leg of Calgary’s ring road.



In 2009, the Tsuu T’ina band voted down a proposal from the province and the latest deal is said to be similar, but not identical.



While neither side has yet released the terms of the latest deal, sources have said it includes $275 million and offers guarantees to Tsuu T’ina for 2000 hectares of new reserve land in exchange for about 400 hectares to build the road. The province has also offered about $65 million to help pay for businesses and residents who will have to move to make way for the road.



The government of Alberta is also expected to foot the bill for expensive interchanges that will be required.



A band source said Thursday that Tsuu T’ina leaders held several forthright discussions with band members about the proposal, a move that helped turn the dial in favour of the vote.



He said the community will do all it can to support the residents who will need to relocate.



Another band source said he was thrilled with the decision and credited the work of previous Chief Sandford Big Plume laying the foundation for the vote, and Whitney for communicating the plans to the people.



“We’re going to press forward now as an economic powerhouse in First Nation country,” he said.



“I’m so excited.”



jkomarnicki@calgaryherald.com

