Lloydminster Mayor and council are throwing their support behind a proposed resolution to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
City council has agreed to have Mayor Gerald Aalbers write a letter of support for Strathcona County Council’s resolution.
On December 10, Strathcona County agreed to submit a resolution to the FCM to advocate for municipalities in the Prairies to the federal government. They want the FCM to advocate for the repeal or amendment of Bills C-69 and C-48 as well as work with provinces, municipalities and Indigenous groups to establish a utility corridor from coast to coast.
The resolution states that Bill C-48, the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, and Bill C-69, the Impact Assessment Act and Canadian Energy Regulator Act, will not help Canada become more competitive and does not have a positive impact on the environment.
Councilor Aaron Buckingham agreed with the resolution and says everything must be done to help the local and provincial economies.
“There was some discussion on whether we should weigh in on a federal matter. Absolutely we should. That’s why we’re sitting around this table. These are things that affect our local community in the two provinces that we are a part of and so I’m thrilled that we are going ahead and writing a letter of support.”
Buckingham expects opposition from municipalities outside of the Prairies but says it is key that these matters be brought forward to the federal government.
Councilor Michael Diachuk says the letter and resolution will show a clear and unified message from Canadian municipalities to the government.
“If nothing else, the government will probably back up a step and say ‘If we are hearing this from our municipalities, First Nations and provinces then perhaps we should take a step back and look at the kind of recommendations that we’re hearing from each of those levels.’”
Mayor Gerald Aalbers will be meeting with members of the FCM Board at the SUMA Convention next week to speak on this and several other matters. He says he will be representing the grassroots people of the area and share their concerns with all levels of government.
The resolution will be put forward at the 2020 FCM Conference in Toronto in June.