Santa's not the only one getting letters from Canadians hoping to show how nice they are and how much they'd like a certain present in their stocking this year.
A Canada-wide letter writing campaign is asking Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley to bring less delay-causing government red tape when it comes to the consultation process over proposed industrial developments. The wish list item doesn't roll off the tongue like a Lego set or a PlayStation, but for many Canadians, that is what they are asking for this holiday season.
And as of last Tuesday, Lac La Biche County councillors have joined the campaign.
Industry helps with discussion
When the issue first came to council two weeks ago, they voted not to get involved in the industry-backed campaign to re-think some components of the federal government's proposed Bil C-69. But Lac La Biche County's elected officials had an about-face last week, sending their own letter to the provincial leader and the Prime Minister.
Council's change of heart came a week industry officials voiced concerns that a non-response from the council didn't show support for the large tax base that is made up by the oil and gas and natural resource industry in the municipality.
"It would be a travesty," said local Cenovus spokesperson Lise Warawa, during her presentation to council two weeks ago.
At the same meeting, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd's Chris Best with the company's stakeholder relations department said troubling issues his industry sees inside the Bill-C69 legislation could "kill investment" forcing municipalities like Lac La Biche County to "lost financial stability."
Second of three Senate readings passed
Warawa and Best — along with thousands who have now sent letters to the premier and prime minister — want the federal government to pause their deliberations of the legislation that is now before the Senate, receiving the second of three readings needed to make it law last Wednesday. The Bill, officially called the Impact Assessment Act, outlines federal guidelines when it comes to resource development. Opponents say the new bill gives too much discretion to the sitting government to decide on projects — even after full review processes have been completed. Detractors also say the new review and consultation process proposed in the act will open up the process to groups with no direct connection to project, prolonging what they say is already a laborious consultation process.
Because one of the primary complaints by industry leaders revolves around what they fear will be a politically motivated decision-making process, Lac La Biche County councillors initially shied away from a confrontational letter of support. A template for a letter was sent to council late last month by industry consultation organization, OSCA, the Oil Sands Community Alliance. That template, council said at the time, was too politically confrontational.
"... I'm a bit leery of taking a side," said councillor Lorin Tkahuk at the time, before voting not to send a letter supporting the concerns over Bill-C69.
Last Tuesday, Tkachuk and all nine on council reversed that decision and voted to send letters ‚ but letters with less confrontation and more information ... and more recipients.
"We need to make sure we cast a wide net," said Tkachuk as council agreed to send their letters to not only the PM and Premier, but also to provincial and federal ministers of Energy and Environment and the area's MP and MLA.
Letter promotes community
The letters sent highlight the diverse economy, culture and geography of the Lac La Biche region. There are references to Indigenous relations and environmental stewardship. There is mention of the positive economic impacts of the oil and gas industry, and the concerns over some aspects of the bill, but subtle changes were made from the original to remove some of "negative."
A portion of the newly approved letter to Prime Minister Trudeau for example, states: "We worry that Bill C-69 in its current form will complicate the energy industry's approval process, impacting investor confidence and, especially, the livelihoods of our middle-class citizens."
The original version recommended in the OSCA template said: "... will complicate the energy industry's' approval process, negatively impacting investor confidence and our citizens' livelihoods."
Lac La Biche Mayor Omer Moghrabi, who was on the losing side of the first vote, was pleased to see the matter re-addressed and approved. He told council that there has been a lot of negative and untruthful things said nationally about the opposition to the bill. By having municipalities and business leaders speak out about the concerning aspects of the new legislation, it defends the truth.
"I think there are a lot of non-truths out there and a letter that states we are all in support shows there are things we have to challenge," said Moghrabi following council's unanimous decision to join the letter-writing campaign.
An exact date on when the third and final vote on the new Bill will take place.
The Canadian Senate will be sitting in chambers all this week, leading to their Christmas break on Dec. 21.
