By Storrm Lennie

AUMA-led coalition asking communities to spread the word about Canadian resources

Mar 18, 2019 | 12:58 PM

The Resource Communities of Canada Coalition, which represents a collection of communities impacted by the resource sector, is gaining momentum across the nation.

The towns of Penhold and Rocky Mountain House are two of the latest communities to join the coalition, which is organized through the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA).

The coalition advocates for the success of the resource sector and aims to provide a platform where honest and accurate information on resource development can be gathered by members of the community.

According to Barry Morishita, AUMA President, it is attempting to promote responsible resource development and to coordinate a respectful approach to the conversation.

“The AUMA took it upon themselves and said we have several members that express a lot of frustration about the conversations that are going on, so how can municipalities get involved and have a little bit of a different discussion on it, not polarized on one side or the other, but to try and present the facts on how responsible resource development can facilitate community wellness, community growth and economic activity,” Morishita explains.

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“We think that it’s key for municipalities to get involved in the conversation regardless of what side of the debate they’re on. We are really encouraging all municipalities to get that message out there.”

The group has reached out to all of its municipal members on both the urban and rural side.

Morishita says the hope is to start conversations across the country because it’s vital to know that responsible resource development must be accompanied by a measured conversation and communicating the facts.

“We think it really comes down to communicating with people that these are the facts, these are things that will affect you, these are what’s bad and these are what’s good, how to mitigate it, and how you don’t,” he adds. “Whether a project goes through or not has to be based on reality and you have to have respectful conversation and municipalities are hoping they can be the ones who reach that.”

AUMA is expected to make a presentation at the upcoming Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in May to emphasize the importance of Canada’s resource.