City Council In Fort McMurray Wants All New Oil Sands Projects To Be Slowed Down

In an exclusive interview on The Policy Channel, (www.policychannel.com) RMWB Mayor Melissa Blake says Fort McMurray is simply in no position to accommodate any new oil sands project development. "We need to get our house in order before we can proceed too much further with our support for these oil sands plants." Blake says that, while economic development is important, the future of the community is what’s at stake. "No one on my council wants to stop development, but we do need to get ourselves in a position to welcome it. That means, having the housing, having the infrastructure, having your roads and transportation up to a standard that’s suitable for the population."

Over the next ten years more than $125 Billion in oil sands projects are expected to take place in the RMWB and across Northern Alberta. The current phenomenal rate of development has led to a population boom in Fort McMurray. The result is: traffic congestion and road strain; inadequate housing; a skyrocketing cost of living; increases in drug use and related crimes; and stress upon schools, health care and other social services.

It is estimated at least $1.9 billion is needed to improve roads, water treatment facilities and other necessary city and local services. Blake says "the intensity of growth is putting pressure on us more than on other place in Alberta. This isn’t a cycle with an end in the near term."

The RMWB is pushing for more money from the provincial government to help fix capital and social infrastructure needs and shortfalls, now in light of projections to triple oils sands production in the next decade. They hope intervention at the EUB level will ensure community concerns are reviewed and addressed before further development is approved.

To view the entire interview with Mayor Melissa Blake, go to the Policy Channel.