Council must break chains with industry
Editorial appeared in Fort McMurray Today March 22, 2006
It's shocking talk.
After hearing from the Northern Lights Health region last week that oilsands employees flooding into the community are straining hospital resources and leading to record emergency room visits, Coun. Jim Carbery's had enough.
He talked tough about future expansion of the industry Tuesday night, about requiring future plants to ante up a lot more before their projects can go ahead.
It was left unsaid, but the mood of council seems to be leaning toward taking the ultimate action -- stopping a new project in its tracks, unless they do more for the community.
It's an action that would likely see a lot of support from McMurrayites.
Not the camp workers. Not those who clog Highway 63 on Thursdays and Sundays. And not those who fly in and fly out.
Real McMurrayites, those who have moved themselves and their families to the Oilsands City, who experience the good with the bad, and are here to grab hold of the rough ride that growth is giving us with the goal of a better life for all, want their fair share.
Those outside Fort McMurray want our oil, nothing else. They want profits. They don't care that quality of life here has measurably suffered.
Residents of this region are the sharp end of the stick. And we're getting worn down.
It's unknown at this point whether regional council has the ability to block a future oilsands development. What's becoming more clear is that there's the will to do it.
With huge profits in the offing, it's clear the industry -- both existing and new players -- will have to step up to the plate.
While cash is what's needed, Carbery's suggestion that the plants be told to recruit doctors is an excellent idea, too.
Carbery went on to say that past discussions with the industry have resulted in no action. That can't continue.
With billions being dug out of the ground and pushed down pipelines to the south, the oilsands industry must do more than pay to have a name of a company on the side of a building.
Corporate masters and shareholders may not like it, but more of those profits must come back north and be spent on everything that makes this community a better place to live.
For their own employees and the rest of the community.
Wood Buffalo has approached senior levels of government with its so-called "business case" study, seeking $1.2 billion in infrastructure cash. While the feds are still on the sidelines, the Alberta government has put up hundreds of millions of dollars so far.
The key mistake made by Wood Buffalo was to ally with industry for the study.
The chains must be broken. The oilsands are part of the problem, and must be part of the solution, too.
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today
It's shocking talk.
After hearing from the Northern Lights Health region last week that oilsands employees flooding into the community are straining hospital resources and leading to record emergency room visits, Coun. Jim Carbery's had enough.
He talked tough about future expansion of the industry Tuesday night, about requiring future plants to ante up a lot more before their projects can go ahead.
It was left unsaid, but the mood of council seems to be leaning toward taking the ultimate action -- stopping a new project in its tracks, unless they do more for the community.
It's an action that would likely see a lot of support from McMurrayites.
Not the camp workers. Not those who clog Highway 63 on Thursdays and Sundays. And not those who fly in and fly out.
Real McMurrayites, those who have moved themselves and their families to the Oilsands City, who experience the good with the bad, and are here to grab hold of the rough ride that growth is giving us with the goal of a better life for all, want their fair share.
Those outside Fort McMurray want our oil, nothing else. They want profits. They don't care that quality of life here has measurably suffered.
Residents of this region are the sharp end of the stick. And we're getting worn down.
It's unknown at this point whether regional council has the ability to block a future oilsands development. What's becoming more clear is that there's the will to do it.
With huge profits in the offing, it's clear the industry -- both existing and new players -- will have to step up to the plate.
While cash is what's needed, Carbery's suggestion that the plants be told to recruit doctors is an excellent idea, too.
Carbery went on to say that past discussions with the industry have resulted in no action. That can't continue.
With billions being dug out of the ground and pushed down pipelines to the south, the oilsands industry must do more than pay to have a name of a company on the side of a building.
Corporate masters and shareholders may not like it, but more of those profits must come back north and be spent on everything that makes this community a better place to live.
For their own employees and the rest of the community.
Wood Buffalo has approached senior levels of government with its so-called "business case" study, seeking $1.2 billion in infrastructure cash. While the feds are still on the sidelines, the Alberta government has put up hundreds of millions of dollars so far.
The key mistake made by Wood Buffalo was to ally with industry for the study.
The chains must be broken. The oilsands are part of the problem, and must be part of the solution, too.
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today
2 Comments:
Well if you're going to do something, you had better do it fast.
I live and work just east of Toronto, and I work in the trucking industry.
They are having job fairs out here, and rumours are flying. "Move to Ft. McMurray", the cry goes, "They pay you for everything. $30 an hour right from when you say you'll work for them."
There are even stories floating about of a company trying to pay $800 a day for workers.
If you don't act, you will be overrun.
Well if you're going to do something, you had better do it fast.
I live and work just east of Toronto, and I work in the trucking industry.
They are having job fairs out here, and rumours are flying. "Move to Ft. McMurray", the cry goes, "They pay you for everything. $30 an hour right from when you say you'll work for them."
There are even stories floating about of a company trying to pay $800 a day for workers.
If you don't act, you will be overrun.
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