RMWB council approves new Municipal Development Plan

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The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) has a new plan to manage the growth and needs of the region after council and administration both agreed the former plan is outdated.

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The new Municipal Development Plan (MDP) focuses on a slower, measured population and economic growth compared to the last oilsands boom. Priorities include a heavy emphasis on promoting economic innovation in all fields and not just the oilsands.

Other points include encouraging truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities, celebrating the community and culture of the region, flood and wildfire protection, rural development and nature preservation. It was approved unanimously by council at their Tuesday meeting. Councillor Ken Ball was absent.

“The proposed MDP is aligned with our current reality and response to the challenges we face today. In order for us to progress, it is imperative that the future growth be intentional and responsible, and a new vision be adopted to enhance the sense of belonging in our region,” said Amanda Owens, the RMWB’s senior manager of planning and development.

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The former Municipal Development Plan (MDP) was adopted by the mayor and council of the day in 2011. The Alberta government requires all municipalities to adopt a 20-year strategy managing short-term and long-term growth, decision making and priorities.

Owens said this plan is obsolete because the former plan was developed during the height of the last oilsands boom. Based on population trends and production data from oilsands companies, the RMWB expected a population of 231,000 people by 2030.

Those plans ended following a collapse in global oil prices in late 2014. The 2016 Horse River Wildfire, the April 2020 flood, the COVID-19 pandemic and years of economic uncertainty in the oilsands also halted or slowed economic and population growth.

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Owens said the RMWB now expects population growth of one per cent to 99,000 people by 2044, excluding the commuter workforce. Unlike the last boom, Fort McMurray now has the infrastructure and land available for more growth. The 2021 municipal census recorded Fort McMurray’s population at 76,006 and the rural hamlets count 2,740 residents. 

“Furthermore, since 2011 there, there’s been added emphasis on Truth and Reconciliation, sustainable growth, a diversified economy and growing responsibly,” said Owens.

Business groups endorse plan, concerns about Draper raised

The plan was endorsed by Dianna de Sousa, executive director of the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce; and Bryce Kumka, chair of the Wood Buffalo Development Advisory Committee.

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de Sousa praised the plan for supporting incentives that encourage growth, as well as a business incubator to help new small business owners. Many of her members have complained about high commercial rents, she said.

“This plan can demonstrate to an outside investor that we have development-ready land for population growth for at least the next 20 years,” said Kumka.

“I think that’s a very important and foundational document to have in our quiver when we’re going out to seek investment from outside the region.”

Tammy Cooley, representing Jean Family Businesses, argued the MDP tells developers “our region is closed for business” and restricts development in Draper.

Councillor Stu Wigle was also concerned Draper was ignored by the MDP. He pointed out Draper has no drainage plan, community hall, gas, running water or sewage services. Floods and wildfires have changed the landscape and restricted development. There are ongoing concerns about slope stability.

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“It’s a community that’s forgotten about because we haven’t had a plan,” said Wigle.

Kumka and Councillor Lance Bussieres were concerned with how many people participated during public feedback. Owens said more than 3,400 people participated in meetings and there were 204,000 individual interactions online. Kumka felt how the RMWB does public engagement should be changed, but did not have any ideas at the moment.

RMWB denies MDP influenced by federal, UN policies

Mila Byron, who sat as a Ward 1 councillor between 2007 and 2010, said the plan “disturbingly aligns” with the federal government’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She held up pages printed from the government’s website as she argued the language used in both plans was similar. Byron also argued the 2011 plan was still relevant to the region.

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When pressed by Mayor Sandy Bowman and Councillor Funky Banjoko for specific examples of overlap, Byron could not provide any examples beyond similar language.

Connie Shields, a resident who has organized protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and teaching sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, made the same arguments.

Shields argued sections on climate change and truth and reconciliation came directly from the United Nations. Much of her presentation were criticisms of how governments handled the pandemic while she attacked various federal and provincial bills and policies.

Councillor Allan Grandison argued an MDP cannot control any legislation passed by other levels of government. RMWB legal counsel Chris Davies said addressing environmental, cultural or social issues in an MDP is allowed under the Municipal Governance Act.

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Owens rejected the MDP was influenced by the federal government or the UN, and said the 2011 plan had similar language about climate change and sustainable development. Any similarities between the MDP and any documents from the federal government or UN are coincidental, she said.

“It is an overarching, long-term strategic plan. It has a horizon of 20 years… it is intended to just give a pulse of where we want to see ourselves in 20 years from today,” said Owens.

“We certainly aren’t pushing any agenda that has been mentioned this evening. We’re not cross-referencing those documents.”

Bowman and Wigle were curious about why climate change was mentioned in the MDP, though. Such Chandhiok, RMWB planning and development manager, said planning for the impacts of climate change is becoming common among urban planners.

The MDP’s mention of climate change includes planning for wildfires and floods, waste management, lowering emissions, supporting carbon capture and storage, and supplementing the power grid with alternative energy.

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vmcdermott@postmedia.com

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