Natural Resources Committee on June 5th, 2012
Evidence of meeting #41 for Natural Resources in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was development.
A recording is available from Parliament.
On the agenda
MPs speaking
Also speaking
- Francis Bradley Vice-President, Policy Development, Canadian Electricity Association
- Peter Mackey President and Chief Executive Officer, Qulliq Energy Corporation
- Melissa Blake Mayor, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
June 5th, 2012 / 10:10 a.m.
NDP
Claude Gravelle Nickel Belt, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today.
My first question is going to be for Mayor Blake. I'm not sure whether I heard correctly, Mayor Blake, so I'm going to ask the question again. Did you say that the funding for the Fort Chipewyan airport was cut?
10:10 a.m.
Mayor, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
It has been discontinued, yes.
10:10 a.m.
NDP
10:10 a.m.
Mayor, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
The federal government made a contribution to that airport in perpetuity, until the recent letter telling us that they would be removing that funding.
10:10 a.m.
NDP
10:10 a.m.
Mayor, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
10:10 a.m.
NDP
10:10 a.m.
Mayor, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
I absolutely will, yes.
10:10 a.m.
NDP
Claude Gravelle Nickel Belt, ON
And what kind of effect is that going to have on the Fort Chipewyan airport?
10:10 a.m.
Mayor, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
My belief is that funds that get cut will have to be replaced somehow, presumably from the municipality. So either my expenses are going up or the cost of airline travel will be going up to offset what those expenses were.
10:10 a.m.
NDP
Claude Gravelle Nickel Belt, ON
So the chances are that taxpayers are going to have to pay for the extra funding that's being cut.
10:10 a.m.
Mayor, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Taxpayers? It will be taxpayers or travellers or a combination.
10:15 a.m.
NDP
Claude Gravelle Nickel Belt, ON
You mentioned several times that you had problems getting access to land to expand your municipality. Who owns the land you're talking about? Is it crown land, private land...?
10:15 a.m.
Mayor, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
It is crown land held by the province.
10:15 a.m.
NDP
Claude Gravelle Nickel Belt, ON
So by withholding that land from you, the province is not helping you in developing your municipality.