“We’ve got to be hopeful.”
There could be a light at the end of the tunnel for contractors who’ve been pleading with the province to take a stand on the Crown versus ‘traditional land’ issue after the province promised it will organize a meeting of all stakeholders – contractors included – “sooner than later.”
At least that’s what Contractors’ spokesman Dave Redgate was hoping last week after lawyers for the contractors met with the five ministers who have been asked to help adjudicate the matter.
“Our lawyers met with the ministers (of Energy, Economic Development, Sustainable Resource Development, finance as well Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development) and presented the books from a representative number of contractors for the past decade or so,” he told The Leader Friday. From those figures, he said, lawyers “proved that drops in provincial income taxes are in large part due to those (losses) being suffered by the contractors.
“They’ve seen the figures, and those are indisputable. And I think now they realize what they failed to recognize earlier – that their revenue loss is 100 per cent because of our losses.” He says the meeting spurred promises for a meeting “sooner than later,” and a promise that ministers will do their part “hasten the process.”
Redgate says he hopes the wake up call was enough to ensure that meeting finally happens.
“I have to be hopeful. And I think it’s time to check the attitudes at the door and make this meeting as productive and co-operative as we can.”
The meeting might be coming close, but that’s still not good enough to convince Reeve Sheila Foley it’s time to let up on the pressure.
Municipal District of Lesser Slave River council last week renewed a pledge to have the Contractors’ dilemma put on the table of the annual convention.
The Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties meets early next month, and this M.D. will ask its counter parts to support a motion asking Premier Ralph Klein to take a stand. It also challenges the province if it can’t settle the dispute to take the matter before the courts for a final decision on what some First Nations groups are calling ‘traditional land’.
“We want to keep this matter open, in the forefront, so they don’t think we’re forgetting. This was brought up at the convention in 1999 and was taken to the province.” Still nothing has been done, she added, wondering aloud what Aboriginal Affairs Minister Pearl Calahasen plans to do with the $6 million she got from Premier Ralph Klein to ‘address’ the issue.
“If it’s compensation for those who are claiming ownership to traditional (or Crown) lands, that’s not fair either.
Like contractors in the Slave Lake area, Foley worries that municipalities won’t be invited to the table when the stakeholders’ meetings begin.
“If we don’t get some answers now, it’ll be another three generations before anything gets settled.”

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