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Council returns to local business following Teck decision

PHOTO. RMWB Council chambers from the interim location at the Syncrude Athletic Park Clubhouse on Jan. 28, 2020. MYMCMURRAY/Phil Wood.

RMWB Council reconvenes in public on Feb. 25, 2020, two days after Teck’s decision to abandon its Frontier mine proposal.

Mayor and Councillors will attend to local matters, which will see the introduction of two motions.

Councillor Keith McGrath will introduce a motion asking the administration to investigate parking enforcement.

Also, Mayor Don Scott shall introduce an advocacy initiative making a formal submission to Alberta’s Fair Deal Panel.

Councillors’ Motions

Brought to the attention of RMWB Council on Feb. 11, 2020, Cllr. McGrath’s motion relates to parking enforcement standards.

If approved, the administration would investigate and benchmark current standards in other municipalities in the province.

Upon completion, it would present a report to RMWB Council on what motorists should pay for parking penalties.

Also, the presentation would refer to an early payment discount option for infractions of the Roads and Transportation Bylaw No. 02/079.

Next, Mayor Don Scott will introduce an Advocacy Initiative.

If the initiative motion wins approval, the Municipality would make a formal request to the Fair Deal Panel struck by Premier Jason Kenney and the Alberta government.

The first request is the province attend the 2020 Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference being held in Toronto, Ont.

Next, they would look at adjusting tax incentives and deductions for businesses and industries to encourage hiring from within Alberta.

Another request calls for the National Research Council to establish a National Centre for Cleaner Fossil Fuels in Fort McMurray.

The centre would investigate commercial “technologies that monetize the value of the oilsands while building environmental technology companies”.

Finally, including a five per cent Indigenous spending goal on federal and provincial procurement policies.

The rate would support the continued development of Indigenous businesses and enterprises.

RMWB Council also meets for another checkup on the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, and to decide on an amendment to the Elected Officials’ Travel and Expenses bylaw.

The Feb. 25 council meeting begins at 4:00 p.m. at the Syncrude Athletic Park Clubhouse.