The lack of housing and the increasing need for affordable accommodations in Bonnyville and Cold Lake are not new stories – both have been building since the boom started a few years back.
But the fact that the waiting list for affordable housing has doubled in Bonnyville and continues to climb in Cold Lake and the response from the provincial government is ‘there is no new money for affordable housing' should leave people wondering who the government is looking out for.
Perhaps proper planning could have led to a more appropriate number of affordable housing units built in Cold Lake and Bonnyville as the oilsands expansion exploded in the area four or five years ago, to help support the communities that are arguably feeling the brunt and the benefits of the economic boom.
With some foresight, more affordable units and even temporary work camps could have been built in this region, which could have coincided with the province's major funding initiative from 2007 to 2012 to increase the amount of affordable housing in Alberta.
This could have alleviated some of the ‘pressures' this area is feeling now, which interestingly enough the province's Municipal Affairs department now would like to hear more about, according to Public Affairs officer Trisha Anderson, in an interview with the Nouvelle last week.
It's a little late. The pressures in the area are well understood.
While it certainly is refreshing and appropriate to see local residents concerned about the affordable housing situation, particularly the municipal politicians who are making an effort to solve some of the issues, it would be fitting for the provincial and federal governments to step up on this matter, before the boom is over and housing costs return to more reasonable rates.
Governments at all levels are in place, not to prop up the profits of industry, but rather protect the interest of the people, particularly those in society that find themselves less fortunate and more vulnerable.
