Communities work together for better future

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Wood Buffalo

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo came into existence on April 1, 1995 and is the first regionalized municipality in the Province of Alberta and the largest in North America. It is 67,000 square kilometres which is bigger than the provinces of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia combined.

The communities of Conklin, Janvier, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates, Saprae Creek Estates, Fort McKay, Fort Fitzgerald, Draper, Fort Chipewyan, Marianna Lake and Fort McMurray still keep their respective names. They do not, however, continue to exist as separate villages, hamlets or City.

In fact, Fort McMurray is now known as the urban service area in the new municipality. The rural service area embraces the 2,680 people living in the community outside of Fort McMurray.

This regionalization has many benefits to the residents. It means more efficient and effective delivery of municipal services by sharing resources, reduction in elected officials and staff which provides for more seamless governing.

It means that the rural service area bill benefit from the expertise of municipal staff of the operation, maintenance and capital expenditure in the public works and transportation functions.

There is increased opportunity for economic development with the opportunity to now put resources together with dollars to ensure a better future for everyone. Amalgamation broadened the tax base creating a fairer distribution of industrial taxes to the residents of the area.

In six month, the benefits of joining together for a common cause has shown results. In the Engineering and Public Works Department, upgrades to one-third of Secondary Highway 881 has resulted in better driving conditions and created work for 17 local residents and three contractors from the rural area.

Construction of Secondary Highway 881 will provide a year round link to the Lac La Biche area, again creating work for local residents.

A winter road to Fort Chipewyan (North Section) will be constructed and maintained from Fort Chipewyan. In the past, operations were directed from Lac La Biche. Negotiations are nearly complete in consolidating an airstrip operation in Conklin and a maintenance agreement with Al Pac and other commercial users will result in better road conditions at a reduced cost to taxpayers.

The Fort McMurray Fire Department has initiated training sessions in the rural areas. During the serious fire situation experienced in the summer months, the rural area was able to see firsthand the cooperation of the firefighters from the urban service centre and the volunteer firefighters from the Anzac area when a grass fire posed a threat to the community.

The municipality is poised for economic expansion well into the next century as investment in the oilsands and forest resource industries continue to grow.

Syncrude Canada Ltd. and Suncor O.S.G. Inc.are committed to developing new mine sites over the next five to ten years. Production of oil is expected to increase significantly in the next five years.

Other oil and gas development is expected on a smaller scale. Solv-Ex Corporation has announced a multi-million dollar oilsand pilot plant 85 km. North of Fort McMurray. This is anticipated to be developed in the next year. The doors are wide open for new investment in the Municipality.

The region's realty business climate is testimony to the commitment to economic development and the region's capacity to effectively respond to the needs of the private sector.

The Municipality encourages new and expanding industries and is committed at both the political and community level to work closely with prospective corporate citizens.

It is the dawning of a new 'Golden Age' for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, united in their goal to see this region prosper and take its rightful place as the engine driving the Alberta economy. \