Alberta's Industrial Heartland
Published February 27, 2009
Just over 10 years ago Alberta's Industrial Heartland was created and today all residents of Alberta are benefiting from its creation. It's easy for folks from Strathcona County to see direct benefits through property taxes, jobs and procurement of products for the plants, but just as a strong Alberta is good for all of Canada, a vibrant Heartland is good for all Albertans and it's time Alberta residents and the Provincial Government realized this and stepped up to support the Heartland projects.
Every day raw materials are piped out of the country instead of being upgraded here. If bitumen royalty in kind (BRIK) is the initiative the province chooses to initiate as a means of encouraging value added processes, then legislative commitment needs to take place now!
The various provincial departments need to listen to each other, the Heartland municipalities, and industries and work together when enacting regulations that directly affect Heartland projects. The municipalities of Strathcona, Sturgeon, Lamont and Fort Saskatchewan have worked together, planned together and have committed funds that made the Heartland a reality. It's a good news story but it can be an even greater story with the support of all Albertans.
Why should someone from Lethbridge or Olds care? Just have them think back to last year when the province of Alberta had to import diesel fuel. Produce, clothing, diapers, furniture - a list of products Albertans have delivered by trucks that run on diesel goes on and on. Diesel itself is delivered by truck! The importing of fuel into Alberta is almost unthinkable but it happened as recently as 2008.
How many times will Albertans have to import fuel before everyone gets on board and contributes to the development of the Heartland industries? As residents of Strathcona County we should be ambassadors for Alberta's Industrial Heartland. Shell will soon be ramping up its construction work force to 5000 and Total E&P is continuing its licensing process. CN and CP both have a presence in the Heartland. Carbon capture projects are underway and pipelines are abound in the area.
You can keep up to date and learn more about Alberta's Industrial Heartland on their web site at www.industrialheartland.com. Spread the message that upgrading needs to happen in Alberta and that what happens in Alberta's Industrial Heartland will benefit all Albertans.
Jacquie Fenske
Councillor, Ward 5
780-464-8147
fenske@strathcona.ab.ca
Last updated: Thursday, March 25, 2010
Page ID: 2029