Fort McMurray is the next stop for Alberta’s Fair Deal Panel.
The panel, which includes Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Tany Yao, will hold a town hall meeting on Jan. 8, 2020, in Fort McMurray.
Yao said so far Albertans were quite involved in the discussions.
“Albertans are really quite frustrated with Bills C-48 and C-69, which impair and seem to target our oilsands industry without doing anything for tankers coming from the Middle East, Venezuela, and even the United States.”
Yao said Albertans suggest the province could also be stronger in agriculture, similar to Ontario and Quebec.
Other ideas the panel explored include establishing a provincial revenue agency, seeking a larger role in international relations, and creating a provincial police force.
Yao added he hopes many residents from Wood Buffalo attend the meeting, particularly those who recently moved to the region.
“We really have a diverse population that’s from right across the nation. Certainly, I’ve noticed when people originally from Quebec get up to speak, they’re telling us to take a hardline on these issues with the federal government because that’s what they experienced [in] Quebec.”
He said most, who attend the meetings, agree that there is a blatant disregard from the federal government toward Alberta.
Formed in November 2019, the panel will report back to the Alberta government by the end of March 2020.
Afterwards, Premier Jason Kenney would hold a referendum so Albertans may vote on the ideas the panel suggests.
The town hall runs from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Quality Hotel in Gregoire on Jan. 8, 2020.
