As discussions and plans still swirl about a proposed storage facility and railway siding east of the Lac La Biche hamlet for oil industry giant Cenovus, and as the inconvenience of a railyard in the middle of the hamlet is still front and centre, it would seem a perfect time to make a deal.
OK, Cenovus, you want the land and a railway spur to load and off-load rail cars, and CN, you say you're willing to discuss relocating the railyard if it won't cost you anything ... let's talk.
Perhaps it's an issue where we'd start with, "If I were King ..." but this seems like a win-win for the majority of the community and one of our biggest industrial taxpayers.
Obviously, there has been backlash about the Cenovus plan, especially due to what some believe is environmentally-sensitive land, and it being in close proximity to a quiet residential subdivision - And those issues will also have to be debated further. But wouldn't it make sense for some backroom dealings to start a process to get the railyard out of the Lac La Biche downtown core?
Cenovus wants the land, we want the railyard moved ... a little back scratching and a deal could be made.
If - and remember, this is all just our hypothetical idea - if such a deal were to take place, it is imperative that our leaders not forget ALL of the people who will be directly affected by such a deal.
Yes, traffic flow in the hamlet will be better, perhaps pedestrian crossings can be built, maybe even a road can be put through ... but if you live anywhere near the proposed Cenovus site you will now have shunting rail cars clanging in your backyard as well as a big-time industrial neighbour. For those people, this deal is not going to be a great one.
If this idea isn't being knocked around behind closed doors, it needs to be since it will change the landscape of the region. And for many - but not all- that is a great reason to kill two birds.
