Alberta's Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd is making her rounds through northern Alberta, meeting with municipal officials and Chambers of Commerce members to discuss concerns and the government's plans. On Wednesday, Sept.
Alberta's Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd is making her rounds through northern Alberta, meeting with municipal officials and Chambers of Commerce members to discuss concerns and the government's plans.
On Wednesday, Sept. 7, local politicians and chamber members gathered at the Neighbourhood Inn in Bonnyville to meet with McCuaig-Boyd to start the conversation on what the government can do to help the area during low oil prices.
"I always believe everything starts with a good conversation, so that is what this is about," said McCuaig-Boyd, who recently visited Grande Prairie County, the location of the first oil well drilled under the province's new Modernized Royalty Framework Program.
"We met several of the employees on the site who are from this area, so even if they have to travel elsewhere in the province, (the new framework) is bringing work to some people... We are working on the early adoption for oil wells on the new framework, so that is going to bring some work back. It is not going to bring everything back, but in a low oil price environment, it is going to be something."
On Wednesday, McCuaig-Boyd also visited the Cold Lake Imperial Oil site, where she met with employees.
"To see the passion people have for the work they do in this area... you can't see that in a phone call," she said, adding they also discussed the proposed expansion project for Imperial Oil on their currently leased lands.
"It was interesting to hear about it today... it still has some work to do, but any expansion or new project anywhere in Alberta right now is very welcome news."
Being from northwest Alberta, McCuaig-Boyd sees similarities in the areas in regards to issues and concerns.
"I think obviously everybody is worried about jobs, and when are things going to get back. We can't control the oil price, but I was able to share that our government is working on a petrochemical diversification program that will bring a couple of projects back to Alberta."
Currently, there are 48 oil wells approved across Alberta, projects that will each create approximately 135 direct and indirect jobs, not including the projects coming down the pipe waiting for approval, including some in the Lakeland region.
"I don't know if they have (made the application) yet, it is an ongoing thing, but hopefully there will be some good news for this area as well," explained McCuaig-Boyd. "We are just working on trying to get Albertans back, and we are doing what we can right now in a low (oil) price environment."
Mayor of Glendon Laura Papirny said, "I think they are doing as well as they can with how the oil market is currently, I know they are looking at other options and are trying to diversify, which will hopefully bring more employment to our area."
City of Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland expressed his concerns regarding the ongoing issues surrounding the pipelines that would help distribute oil across Canada, specifically from Alberta.
"They are all worthy projects that are environmentally sound and make total economic sense to do, and to me, it is just absolutely frustrating that Canada has allowed conversation to drag on when we are losing our competitive advantage very quickly," he said. "People aren't listening in Canada, they have chosen not to listen, so I think it is time to move forward. I think we have done enough and we have to get some pipelines built. I don't care which direction, but we need a pipeline fast, or else we are in big trouble in Alberta."
His concern stems from the province's need for a pipeline, and the potential for jobs should the projects move forward.
"For Cold Lake and Bonnyville, I think it is the number one issue that could affect the livelihood of so many people in our area, and future employment for many people in the province of Alberta, and all of Canada."
He continued, "Right now, I am really worried by what is going on out there, and that is the comment I shared with the minister... She (McCuaig-Boyd) totally gets it, and she is also very concerned that this conversation (regarding pipelines) is off the rails."
"We are hard hit by the downturn, and so is her riding as well, so there was a lot of synergy and a lot of positive communication and dialogue," noted Town of Bonnyville Mayor Gene Sobolewski. "The biggest message was to make sure that we were not the forgotten sibling, because we have been for so long now... We reminded her again, that we, the Town of Bonnyville, sit centre of the second largest oil reserve in Alberta, of which is the third largest oil reserve in the world."
The minister's visit is important for the community for a number of reasons, including the ability to communicate together with fellow municipalities who all share the same concerns.
"We all dialogue together as a region, we all were sitting at the same tables, and voicing our issues, but we were voicing our issues in unity, and that's incredibly important because we are all singing from the same sheet."
"It was great to be able to bring our concerns collectively forward, and to have some answers," Papirny said, adding it is meetings like this that provide ministers with the opportunity to see the communities they serve and represent.
MD of Bonnyville Coun. Mike Krywiak reflected his fellow officials' comments.
"We have to work together, we are all in the same area, and it is nice to have everyone express their concerns and work together."
