Mayors from across the northern half of this province have added their name to the list of groups and municipalities calling on the province to settle the impasse between oilfield contractors and some First Nations groups that claim sole rights to work on Crown lands in the region.
In an unanimous move last week, the Northern Alberta Mayors Caucus urged Premier Ralph Klein and some of his caucus members to step up to the plate and settle the dispute that many contractors say is threatening to kill their business.
Several mayors at the meeting Friday said contractors in their respective areas have pleaded for municipalities to go to bat for them and ask the province to put an end to the threats and demands for 10 or 15 per cent fees for winning contracts on some Crown lands.
Mayor Ray Stern was just one of many mayors that have already asked the province to intervene in the impasse. Several others at the meeting in Edmonton Friday – like Grimshaw’s Mayor Brian Allen and Peace River’s Lorne Mann — said their communities are feeling the financial pinch as contractors are pushed out of contracts. Others alleged the same push is spreading into forestry contracts on Crown lands as well.
And while he supported the coalition’s request for the premier “to provide clear direction on the province’s policy for all Albertans to legally work and carry out business on Crown lands in a safe, non-discriminatory environment,” Stern also urged caution. In fact, there are some First Nations contractors that are feeling the same squeeze, he said. “I caution this group to tread lightly because this issue is very, very complex.”
The following day, however, Treaty 8 chiefs had their own requests for Klein and his inner cabinet.
In a release issued Saturday, the chiefs urged the province to begin recognizing First Nations’ rights to be part of the decision-making process when it comes to resource development on Crown lands.
Bigstone Cree First Nation Chief Gordon Auger said they’ve been asking the province to include them and their rights in the decision-making process for many years.
That is, chiefs want the province to negotiate a “meaningful consultation policy” with them
“That’s just not being done now,” said Chief Auger in the release.
“And until the province gets serious about this, the problem will only escalate.”

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