(Quebec City, QC, May 30, 2019) – Starting May 30, municipal leaders from communities across Canada will be in Quebec City to take part in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) annual conference, and mayors from Alberta and Quebec are looking at the event as an opportunity to break down the divide regarding resource development.
Barry Morishita, Mayor of the City of Brooks in Alberta, and president of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA), Al Kemmere, Councillor in Mountain View County and president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA), are working with Scott Pearce, Mayor, Township of Gore in Quebec, and Michelle Morin-Doyle, Mayor of Quebec City to encourage other leaders participating in the FCM conference to engage in respectful conversations about the impacts and benefits of responsible resource development including local, provincial, and federal economies.
“Perspectives on the energy industry have created a divide across Canada and even within our own communities,” said Pearce. “FCM is a great opportunity for municipal leaders to come together, have a respectful discussion about our perspectives, and reach an understanding about how we can support a responsible energy industry that balances the economic needs of today and our need for a greener future.”
The discussions will be framed around the Support Canadian Energy campaign, championed by the AUMA, RMA, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), and other municipal associations and municipalities across Canada. The campaign focuses on bringing together municipal leaders to have an open and respectful dialogue about energy development to create a common understanding and unified municipal voice.
“The energy industry is about more than oil and gas and pipelines – it includes renewable and non-renewable resources as well,” said Morishita. “Developing the economy and protecting the environment are two things that can happen side by side without choosing one over the other. Finding a balance between economic and environmental sustainability is one of the most pressing challenges we face as municipal leaders, and we need to start working together to find solutions through real consultation.”
Diversity in the conversation is key and Kemmere is looking forward to discussions at FCM.
“More often than not, energy development takes place in rural communities, and municipal districts and counties have a vested interest in ensuring development is respectful of local concerns,” said Kemmere. “We are seeing a significant increase in solar and wind farms, along with traditional oil and gas production, but even they have impacts to the environment and our communities. I’m looking forward to learning about all perspectives and creating a shared vision for energy in Canada.”
The FCM conference takes place May 30 to June 2 at the Quebec City Convention Centre. The conference draws more than 2,000 delegates from across the county and provides opportunities for participants to learn municipal best practices, influence the municipal agenda with federal party leaders, and exchange and share knowledge with other municipal leaders.
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For more information, contact:
Al Kemmere
Councillor, Mountain View County
President, Rural Municipalities of Alberta
403-507-3345
Barry Morishita
Mayor, City of Brooks
President, Alberta Urban Municipalities Association
403-363-9224
Scott Pearce
Mayor, Township of Gore
514-941-2224