Update on Marie Lake
Author: anne | Date: April 17, 2007 | Please Comment!I have received many letters in the past few days regarding the resource development plans in the Marie Lake area. Thank you to everyone who has done this, it definitely helps to keep up the pressure on the government! Below are two recent articles about the issue, as well as the transcripts from the Legislature on Monday, when I asked more questions to the Government about this type of development.
Articles:
Edmonton Journal: All eyes on Stelmach as he handles Marie Lake confrontation
Edmonton Sun: Marie Lake monitoring demanded
Questions from the Legislature April 16: Marie Lake Questions
Listen:
6:11 am on August 11th, 2007
“Storm Clouds Over Lakeâ€
The saying is after the storm the sunshines brighter. Well the storm over Marie Lake is getting bigger and will be a defining moment for the province. Oil companies might of won the first round of the fight by getting the provincial approval to do seismic testing on Marie Lake, but if OSUM and the Tory government think that it will be smooth sailing from here on, they are mistaken. We have not fought this hard and this long to be ignored.
If they harm one fish in the lake the government will hear about it! If they cause a winter fish kill the government will never live it down. The government has done their jobs, to the letter, but not the will of the voters. Government is responsible to the people, not big corporations. I never understood the phrase bowing to big business, and still do not. Our oil is not going anywhere, and the demand is not going anywhere. Alberta bent over backwards to get the oil developed in this province, now we have to realize that the oil is attracting companies, and we do not have to bend over backward, we can choose what companies fit our needs. I sat through a day of hearings for the oil sands consultations, all I could think is, what am I going to say, I do not get paid to make smooth speeches with oh so subtle threats of moving business out of the province.
All I can say is save Alberta for future generations. Save Marie Lake and all other lakes and rivers, for future generations. Marie Lake is not all that important in the scheme of things with unsanitary hospital conditions due to neglect, or the tent cities popping up all over the place, or the possibility that city blocks could be destroyed by fire if the fire codes are not changed or the raise in gangs and crime. All signs of an overheated economy, it is a modern day “GOLD RUSH†out there.
Marie Lake is a shining example of the government neglect of the will of the people!! Marie Lake is a rallying cry to all that think the government is to pro business, and that the pace of oil sands development is uncontrolled. Marie Lake might fall as a martyr to the lack of foresight of the old Tory Government. I understand that the mineral rights were sold in 2006, so it is likely an inherited problem for Premier Stelmach. But now is his moment to shine. The fight is not over. Even if they allow OSUM to do seismic Premier Stelmach can state here and now that no surface leases will be sold for that area. That his government has listened to the public concerns to protect our lakes from exploitation. They can inform OSUM that they would be foolish to do the seismic as they cannot develop the lease, without surface rights.
I have been asked what is the next step in the fight. I can say, we are the perfect opponent to fight, we are a scattered group of individuals, however we will fight to the end to protect our legacy for future generations. This is the mistake that was made when the mineral rights were sold without consultation. The government and oil companies are fragmenting us into small groups across the province. The silver lining of this storm is that all people fighting to protect their legacies will know they are not alone.
Yes the sun will shine bright on the future of Alberta if we work diligently to balance development with the will of the people. We will maintain the beauty of Alberta that attracted our forefathers to this land. We will be prosperous. We will have the quality of life that the government brags is so important. We will have time to spend with our families and special places to take them, away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. We will have the jobs and the homes to live in. We won’t need people living in tents. Alberta will be a place that migratory workers want to make home, not just some cash to take back home, where the quality of life is better.
Yes we have all the things needed to make a great province, when we get a leader with a vision and a concern for Albertans. Stand and shine Kevin Taft, lead us to our future, don’t be a follower.