A recent Wood Buffalo council meeting included a number of motions on a wide variety of topics. One motion called for the downtown arena project to be scrapped, and another motion was seeking a funding commitment for the Willow Square project that has been in limbo for some time. The council also engaged in a debate over a new policy concerning whistle blowers, and members debated different methods and solutions so that rural businesses saw some relief from the high tax rate that applies to non residential property. A 2015 Capital Budget Amendment report was received by the council, and a land sale proposal was also evaluated. The meeting started with a motion by Coun. Keith McGrath to stop all negotiations over the downtown arena with the ICC. The motion also asked that the council prohibit any presentations on proposals and contracts associated with the downtown arena.

While the Wood Buffalo council was in recess McGrath discussed the reasons behind the motion. The councilor talked about the high cost, public opposition, a lack of a sufficient review on the project, and the lack of a sound business case. McGrath explained “This is motivated by common sense. I’m not sold one bit.” Coun. Tyran Ault was responsible for bringing a motion for a funding commitment to the Willow Square long term facility in the amount of $10.5 million. Ault explained “They’re still getting mixed messages on what we as a local government believe in terms of what long-term care we want in the future. So I think it’s time to put our money where our mouth is.”