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FEBRUARY 24-MARCH 1, 2012 | 780-790-6627 | info@macmedia.ca

| OPINION

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Community wants to be involved in monitoring process

people have been using the land for generations, monitoring change since before development started in the region. This is traditional knowledge that will help the governments better understand the true impact that oil sands development is having on Fort McKay land and people. Second, I believe we should be involved because Fort McKay is the community most affected by oil sands development; we smell the odours, we eat moose meat, we drink the water and we eat the fish from the Athabasca River. The Fort McKay people want to know, and have a right to know, how this development in their region is affecting them and if they are not meaningfully involved monitoring industrial development they will have difficulty trusting the process. I am hopeful the governments of Canada and Alberta will take advantage of this remarkable opportunity, incorporating Fort McKays deep understanding of the air, land and water to begin monitoring change in this region. I am also hopeful that the governments will use this knowledge to begin curbing the more negative impacts of industrial development so that we can all live in a better environment only minimally impacted by oil sands development. The Fort McKay Metis Community look forward to learning more about the governments plans and hope to be meaningfully involved in the process going forward in a positive, productive and collaborative manner. Ron Quintal, president Fort McKay Metis Community Fort McKay

On Feb. 3 the Government of Canada and Alberta Government announced that they will be initiating Joint Canada-Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring. It is still unclear to date whether the Fort McKay Metis and other local aboriginal communities will play a meaningful role in the implementation of this plan. While I am completely supportive of monitoring industrial development in our traditional territorynothing is more important to us than our landI am only supportive of this plan if we, the Fort McKay Metis, play a meaningful role in the monitoring. I believe we should play a role in this monitoring for two reasons. First, I believe we should be involved because Metis

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Resident concerned about traffic on Highway 69

Higway 69, all the way to the end of Highway 63. I have sent emails to the transportation minister and he had referred me to Sgt. Dan English with the Department of Transportation, we forwarded the emails to him and I had spoken with him. They currently have three officers for this region only and if one is on holidays they only have two. What a joke. With all the resources and money in this region and the need for more officers lets get NEIGHBOURHOOD them hired. Mortgage Professional I will also be Home Purchase sending our con Re-Finance
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cerns to the news magazines, Global News, and other media sources that may help. We live in Saprae Creek and the truck traffic doesnt follow current laws in regards to excess speeding, no mudflaps, lights not working. Do the residents of Saprae need to sign a petition so the residents can drive to and from work safely? Just drive on Highway 69 during the week and see for yourselves, or maybe you just dont care. They issued several fines this week to truckers since the Department of Transportation was present. Lets get some action. Ken Wispinski Fort McMurray

CORRECTION
There was an error in the Jan. 27Feb. 2, 2012 issue of CONNECT The story titled Were not reinventing the wheel on Page 9 it should say Melissa Blake was first elected to council in 1998. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

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NOTICE OF RESCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE is hereby given that the Council of the Regional Municipality of Wood Bu alo has rescheduled the Public Hearing that was to take place on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. to Tuesday, March 13, 2012 in the Jubilee Centre Council Chamber, Fort McMurray, regarding the following: Bylaw No. 12/004 Land Use Bylaw Amendment Election Sign Provisions The purpose of Bylaw No. 12/004 is to amend the Land Use Bylaw speci c to the sign provisions. These amendments will address the safety concerns throughout the entire Municipality regarding size, location and placement of election signs. The proposed changes are supported by Administration. A copy of the above-noted Bylaw and all related documents may be inspected by contacting Council and Legislative Services (3rd Floor, Jubilee Centre, 9909 Franklin Avenue), between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Bylaw No. 12/004 is also available on the Municipalitys website at www.woodbu alo.ab.ca. If you would like to appear before Council, you must forward a request to the Chief Legislative O cer, clearly stating your support or opposition for the Bylaw, along with any related information. Please ensure that your correspondence includes a telephone number or email address at which you may be contacted. Unless otherwise advised, all speakers will have a maximum of ve (5) minutes to speak. Submissions must be received by the Chief Legislative O cer by 12:00 noon on Wednesday, March 7, 2012.

FORT MCMURRAY, ALBERTA

DATED at Fort McMurray, Alberta this 24th day of February, 2012.

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