Local municipal leaders meet with province to discuss oil and gas assessment review

greenviewmeeting-jpg

Several municipal politicians from the Peace and Mackenzie had a chance to voice their opinions and concerns in a meeting with provincial officials.

The gathering was hosted by the Municipal District of Greenview this past Friday.

Two of the attendees at the discussion were Central Peace-Notley MLA, Todd Loewen and Northern Sunrise County Reeve, Carolyn Kolebaba.

“It was well attended with lots of good comments and questions,” says Loewen, who adds that many topics were covered, but the majority of discussion was around the government’s review of the assessment model for oil and gas companies.

Kolebaba was amount of group of politicians that travelled to the legislature in July to protest the assessment review.

“When we were in Valleyview with our northern elected leaders, I turned the podium towards them and faced them and said, ‘today, we will face you and we will work together to find a solution,’ “says Kolebaba.

She says that Finance Minister, Travis Toews and Municipal Affairs Minister, Tracy Allard were in attendance.

“We had a discussion about how municipalities felt when they received this notice (of an assessment review) and how we want to work together moving forward,” explains Kolebaba.

“Minister Allard said there may be some tweaking that will get done this year, but municipalities can go ahead and do our budgets and she will work with us moving forward.”

When comparing how she feels about the assessment review now, compared to when she turned her back on the legislature in July, Kolebaba says she is optimistic.

“After that meeting, I am about 80 percent more positive than I was before we had the meeting,” points out Kolebaba.

“It was not a slight on the oil and gas companies. We will continue to work with them but they must work with us as well.”

Loewen spoke to the importance of the government getting this right.

“Obviously, our municipal partners are incredibly important because of the services and the Minister (Allard) doesn’t want to push this through quickly, she wants to get it right, “ concludes Loewen.

– Kenny Trenton, Trending 55 Newsroom

Tags: