Finance committee  It's a good question you ask. But again, when we talk about it as a national strategic priority, if this indeed is something that we want to realize as a nation, I think there is an opportunity for engagement. We're very appreciative of the $150 million that came from Infrastructure Canada for the twinning of Highway 63.

Finance committee  That's what I'm saying. There is so much, and it just can't be solved here.

Finance committee  Thank you. I appreciate the challenge that you face as government for a nation. Everybody has similar requests. We see ours as a special case, and what we need to do is find a way so that Canada can also embrace it as a special case. If you're looking at the opportunities the oil sands represent as far as continental energy supply, maybe there is a strategic priority that results from that.

Finance committee  Again, it comes down to priority. When anybody asks me about the biggest challenge we face, it is housing. As a response, the municipality went outside our area of responsibility and created a housing corporation to address the lower end of the market. We're very proud of that organization.

Finance committee  Thank you very much. I appreciate your acknowledging the kind of coverage the region has received. It goes beyond just Canadian publications. We have interests coming from around the world to speak to us on a weekly and monthly basis. The commodity is what drives that. It's about oil sands and the necessity of global interest in that commodity.

Finance committee  As I say, we're looking for opportunities and we'll continue to pursue that one. Thank you for the information.

Finance committee  We have requested Municipal Government Act changes that would enable us to look at taxation differently, so the segregation of machinery and equipment from a commercial base, because if you can appreciate what I am facing, even if I double my tax rates for every ratepayer in the region, I still can't finance the infrastructure required.

Finance committee  Thank you. What happens with the oil sands development and that $100 billion I'm talking about is they contribute through royalties to the Province of Alberta, who then takes the royalties and redistributes them across the province. What they will contribute at a municipal level is property taxation.

Finance committee  None that I'm able to acquire, no.

Finance committee  That is correct.

Finance committee  We certainly have through our AEUB intervention requested what we're calling industrial agreements, which are somewhat different from off-site levies but on the same principle that the developers would contribute to infrastructure directly. We have talked to oil industries directly to see about how we can engage them in doing things up front, as we call it.

Finance committee  Thank you very much. In my five minutes this morning what I wasn't able to tell you is the rate of population growth that we are also experiencing. There are problems that exist in all other municipalities across Canada with infrastructure deficits. We've been challenged to keep pace with the regular maintenance workers along with that.

Finance committee  Thank you very much, and welcome to each of you to our fine region. We're thrilled to have you here and to have this opportunity to present. To get right into it, my name is Melissa Blake, and I am the mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, which is the largest municipality in Canada.