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Infrastructure pressures discussed at minister's visit

Federal Minister of Public Works and Government Services Rona Ambrose spent Thursday morning in St. Paul with a number of municipal politicians discussing infrastructure and growth pressures in northern Alberta.
Federal Minister of Public Works and Government Services Rona Ambrose met with mayors and reeves from across northeastern Alberta in St. Paul on Thursday morning. Also
Federal Minister of Public Works and Government Services Rona Ambrose met with mayors and reeves from across northeastern Alberta in St. Paul on Thursday morning. Also pictured is Westlock-St. Paul MP Brian Storseth.

Federal Minister of Public Works and Government Services Rona Ambrose spent Thursday morning in St. Paul with a number of municipal politicians discussing infrastructure and growth pressures in northern Alberta.

Following the meeting, which was closed to media and the public, Ambrose said the event was organized as a beginning to the process of addressing issues in northern Alberta, which is unique with its own set of challenges, including those generated by oil and gas development.

“This is the beginning of a process,” said Ambrose.

During the meeting Ambrose said she heard politicians voice concerns related to wastewater and water capacity, work camps and foreign workers, population increases, and the often-limited capacities of smaller municipalities.

She said the federal government wants to offer support to municipalities and she recognizes that much of what goes on in northern Alberta helps pay for critical services across Canada. Northern Alberta is an economic driver for the country, she said, adding, “This isn't a temporary situation.”

Over 25 reeves and mayors attended the meeting on Thursday, including Bonnyville Mayor Ernie Isley. A similar meeting had been held in the Peace Country to address issues in northwestern Alberta.

Ambrose said the next step of the process is for her to go back to her colleagues, such as Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and relay what she's heard.

“There's a lot of hard work to do,” said the minister, adding, northeastern Alberta is an “incredibly important” region on a national scale.

Westlock-St. Paul MP Brian Storseth said last week's meeting offered an opportunity to start a dialogue and affirmed the national significance of the area.

Town of St. Paul Coun. Ken Kwiatkowski attended the meeting on behalf of the town. Kwiatkowski said the meeting was “very productive” and one of the main things discussed was the pressure being felt on municipal infrastructure.

Work camps and a general increase in workers coming into the area are “hard on infrastructure,” said Kwiatkowski. He added that municipal representatives also brought up the Build Canada Fund.

Municipalities are hoping the terms for the grant can be changed so municipalities don't have to put as much into the projects to qualify for the grant money, said the councillor.

In a press release handed out at the meeting, Mayor Isley was quoted as being in support of last week's meeting, saying, “It is incredibly important that we have these discussions now and plan ahead for future development. With the oilsands continuing to develop at a rapid rate, this is putting additional pressure on our existing infrastructure.”


Janice Huser

About the Author: Janice Huser

Janice Huser has been with the St. Paul Journal since 2006. She is a graduate of the SAIT print media journalism program, is originally from St. Paul and has a passion for photography.
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