Against the Flow: Rafferty-Alameda and the Politics of the Environment

Richard G. Kuhn is an assistant professor of geography at the University
of Guelph.

This book is about the process leading up to the construction of the
Rafferty and Alameda dams in southern Saskatchewan. In the author’s
words, it is an account of how a small project was propelled to national
prominence through “bureaucratic incompetence and political
maneuvering.” Initially announced in February 1986, construction of
the dams was delayed by a variety of forces and circumstances,
culminating in a Supreme Court ruling regarding the federal
environmental impact assessment process.

This is an insider’s insightful account of the political and legal
battles surrounding the project. The author was involved in the project
initially as a member of the Executive Council of the Saskatchewan
government and later as the project’s vice-president of planning and
operations. The detail may prove onerous for the causal reader; however,
for those interested in the intricacies of decision-making and power,
this book will provide fertile ground.

In outlining the construction processes involving local communities,
national environmental groups, politicians and bureaucrats from
Saskatchewan and Ottawa, and officials from the United States, the
author does not disguise his frustration with many of these players. His
wrath is saved particularly for environmental organizations, the federal
bureaucracy, and the environmental impact assessment process.

Given the detail provided in this volume, it will appeal primarily to
those already familiar with the issue or to those interested in the
process of decisionmaking in Canada as it relates to environmental
issues. The research and presentation are both thorough and
thought-provoking.