Federal Electoral Riding
Yellowhead
MP Rob Merrifield’s riding for decades
• Riding revisions were finalized in 2013 and take effect during the next federal election. October 2015
• Electoral boundaries are reviewed every decade. The changes were attributed exclusively to population and not based on economy, geology, geography nor political strategy.
New Federal Electoral Boundary.Peace River – Westlock
• Removes Fox Creek from an experienced oil and gas riding to the southern extreme of a predominately agriculture riding.
• The new MP, Chris Warkentin, believes there is “nothing between Valleyview and Whitecourt but forest.”
• “a natural geographical gap of forest and farmland separates Whitecourt from the next nearest town to the north, Valleyview, which lies almost 200 km away.” Merrifield 2012
• One of the largest ridings, covers approximately one third of the province.
The new Greenview Three
Peace River – WestlockGrande Prairie Yellowhead
Provincial representationGrande Prairie - SmokyMLA Everett MacDonaldPreviously Mel Knight
• Dec 2013 cabinet shuffle. Long term portfolios were exchanged. Strategic moves, demotions, and rewards.
• MLA MacDonald does not hold a ministerial portfolio.
• Two recent defections from the party…
• Allison Redford just resigned
• Destabilized provincial, federal and local government at a time we can least afford it.
Alberta Health - North zone
• Largest zone in the province• Provincially, highest incidence of
obesity, chronic illness , diabetes and auto-immune disease …
• Zone indicators do not match local experience*
• Physician recruitment and retention challenges.
• Hospital and clinic operational overruns
• Nursing staff shortages• Limited service provisions• Extensive travel for diagnostics
and treatment
• New hospitals for GP, Whitecourt and a controversial new pilot clinic model in Slave Lake… hush
Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance
• These are our water stewards
• The most recently formed watershed alliance. Established in 2011, prior to that, our area was not represented.
• Fox Creek sits very near the southern limit. Some of the area’s work, to the south, east and west, belongs to another watershed.
• Neighbouring watershed is Athabasca, which includes Fort McMurray and is receiving intense scrutiny
Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance
• Marker
• Annual general meeting is March 21, 2014, in Peace River.
• Currently we are reasonably well represented by a balanced contingent representing industry, environment, forestry, science and agriculture.
• What does water shed say
http://www.mightypeacewatershedalliance.org/reports/
• http://www.environment.alberta.ca/apps/basins/default.aspx?Basin=1
Air Shed Zones
• There are 9 air shed zones in total, only 6 are illustrated here. The remaining 3 are very small and to the south.
1
2
3
45
6
7
89
2013/12/01 10:06:25 54.50 -117.30 1.0 2.9 No
187 km NNE of Jasper,AB
2013/12/01 05:26:33 54.47 -117.25 5.0 3.1 No
184 km NNE of Jasper,AB
Government monitored locations
• No federal or provincial monitors locally
Industry monitored locations
• Voluntary reporting for industries below target emissions.
• Compulsory for those with a high emission history. Protocols, reporting frequency and measurements are specific to each station.
• The system is highly contested.
• Evidence builds, with weekly disclosures, that industry is not reporting accurately.
Air shed zones, federal, provincial and industry monitoring combined
Are we getting all the information?
Do we want to know?
Land-use Framework RegionUpper PeaceAdjacent Upper Athabasca is the other in our areasupposed to be complete in 2012 – hasn’t started yethttps://landuse.alberta.ca/RegionalPlans/UpperPeaceRegion/Pages/default.aspx
Alberta’s prosperity has created opportunities for our economy and people, but it also has created challenges for Alberta’s landscapes. Industrial activity, municipal development, infrastructure, recreation and conservation interests often are competing to use the same piece of land. There are more and more people doing more and more activities on the same piece of land. The competition between user groups creates conflict, and often puts stress on the finite capacity of our land, air, water and habitat.We have reached a tipping point, where sticking with the old rules will not produce the quality of life we have come to expect. If we want our children to enjoy the same quality of life that current generations have, we need a new plan. https://landuse.alberta.ca/Documents/LUF_Land-use_Framework_Report-2008-12.pdf
https://landuse.alberta.ca/PlanforAlberta/LanduseFramework/Pages/default.aspx
Play Based Regulation Pilot
Local Seismic Activity40+Largest in magnitude near Crooked Lake.
First. Swarm over of 18 over 12 days.Date: 2013/12/01 Time: 01:38:08 Latitude and Longitide: 54.48 -117.31Depth: 1.0Magnitude: 3.2Location: 185 km NNE of Jasper,AB
LastestDate: 2014/05/25 Time: 13:17:20 (UT)Latitude and Longitude: 54.16 -117.43 Depth: 1.0Magnitude: 2.0 Location: 148 km NNE of Jasper,AB
Source: Natural Resources Canada
http://thetyee.ca/News/2012/02/23/AlbertaCatchUp/
Fisheries
http://mywildalberta.com/fishing/SafetyProcedures/FishConsumptionAdvisory.aspx
Fish health eating limits
See also watershed
• We sit at the southern most, and distant extremes of many significant jurisdictions.
• In the largest and youngest watershed alliance.
• A large federal riding and the largest health zone.
• Federal and provincial air monitoring and air shed zones exclude us completely.
• Other jurisdictional challenges: Wildlife – Whitecourt; Fisheries – Edson; Victim Assistance – Eagle Tower Barrhead; RCMP K division, Western Alberta District, northern allowance
