The City of Cold Lake will be represented in Ottawa.
Impact, a lobbyist firm based out of Ottawa working with the Coalition of Canadian Municipalities for Energy Action, has organized multiple meetings with senators and other officials in Canada’s capital about Bill C-69, and Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland wants someone from the municipality to be there.
“This is such an important policy that I think we need to be there to represent our industry and the citizens in our community. This bill has huge consequences possibly for the future of oil and gas and a bunch of other industries,” he stressed during council’s corporate priorities meeting on Tuesday, April 16.
“I think this is what people elected us for, is to go out and be there,” added Copeland.
Council agreed their representation was needed.
“I support a Cold Lake presence, absolutely,” said Coun. Kirk Soroka.
According to Copeland, Impact will have small groups of three meet with senators to discuss how Bill C-69, an act to enact the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, while amending the Navigation Protection Act, will impact the region.
“This has to pass third reading in the senate, and we hope at least at the minimum there are major amendments to the bill, that’s what the energy committee is supposed to be doing, and then we will bring it to the floor of the senate for discussion on the amendments. The idea is to get in front of those senators before it goes to the floor for third reading, to lobby the senators,” he noted. “From what I understand, the government can still make major modifications to the bill, and when it passes third reading in the senate, they can still make changes to Bill C-69 for when it comes to the House of Commons for them to pass.”
Representatives from municipalities within the coalition will give their thoughts through a prepared statement, in hopes of getting the message across that something needs to change.
“It’s not a hill to die on for me. I understand (why), but I’m just wondering if we will be able to speak, or if we will just be sitting there and someone else speaks. Are they going to be able to express our concerns accurately?” Coun. Vicky Lefebvre explained.
Copeland said, “We’re really just there to speak about the devastation this bill could have on our communities.”
