News of a camp for industrial workers being set up in Slave Lake provoked some fairly heated discussion at the Slave Lake Chamber of Commerce meeting on Oct. 31. Most of the opinion ran against such a development, although that sentiment was not unanimous.
Nevertheless, the Chamber did pass a motion expressing opposition to an in-town camp facility.
The discussion arose when Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee informed Chamber members that Noralta Lodge is proposing a camp, or ‘lodge’, within Town limits. She said the Town “is looking at it,” and asked for feedback from Chamber members. She got plenty.
First to speak up was Shane Rafuse of Nordic Home Furniture. Although acknowledging that Noralta would do a top-notch job, he warned that once such a camp is allowed in town, “it’ll be there forever.”
Just like at the schools, Rafuse said, if you allow portables, the permanent structures don’t get built.
“Make them put their money where their mouth is,” and build permanent accommodations, he said.
Doug Babiy of SL Ford countered: “But there is an immediate need.”
“I don’t think we want to look like Red Earth,” responded Brick Manager Gerry Allarie. “I think there’s a place for camps – at the construction site. And it should disappear when construction is over.”
Allarie echoed Rafuse’s caution – that no matter what the time restrictions, once permission is given, businesses have a habit of sticking around. He gave the example of a certain auto salvage yard in Slave Lake that was allowed to open on a one-year permit. It took 18 years and $50,000 in lawyers’ fees to get rid of it.
“That camp will still be there in 20 years,” Allarie predicted. “And we’ll still be talking about why we allowed it.”
Allarie also cited the competitive advantage that such a facility would enjoy over other types of accommodation that have higher municipal standards to live up to.
“It’s not fair game,” he said.
Finally, Allarie predicted that as good a facility as Noralta’s would be, it would open the door for others not nearly as nice.
Sounding a different note, Tyler Warman of Boston Pizza said if such a camp provided relief for his staffing woes, he’d welcome it. He’s chronically short of workers, and can’t bring new ones to town because they can’t find accommodations.
“To be honest, I’m in favour of it,” he said.
But Warman’s didn’t hear much support from other Chamber members. ReMax Realty rep Craig Graham joined the majority in opposition, citing extensive experience with camps.
“You’ve got all kinds of social implications with living that way,” he said.
Allarie made a motion, which passed, that the Chamber express opposition to any such camp within Town boundaries or even the joint Town/M.D. planning area but that it be located at the job site (presumably Tolko’s new mill). Further, the Chamber directed its administration to fax the motion to all of its members, seeking their comments. Those will be presented in summary form at any public hearing on the proposed development.
In preparation for that public hearing, the Town is investigating other similar situations in municipalities around northern Alberta. Planning & Development Officer Laurie Skrynyk says she’s looking at how municipalities assess such developments for taxes, economic impact on the hotel industry, law enforcement implications and what regulations municipalities impose in the way of time limits.
“I’m going to give council the full gamut and let them make the decision at the end of the day.”

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