A request by rural hamlets is asking the provincial government to determine whether they have been unfairly treated under the amalgamation agreement terms. According to McKay Metis president Ron Quintal “We’re hoping Alberta will open the amalgamation agreement and tell us what it originally really says, especially regarding what the rural communities are owed and what role we play in the municipality. Are we being treated fairly? It’s a crying shame communities struggling with education and social issues have to fight in an area so rich as ours. At the heart of the issue is the revenue provided by industry sites near our communities to the municipality and what we get in return. I think pulling out of the municipality is not a goal we’re moving towards. We don’t want a negative outcome. It’s just that after giving up our tax base, can anyone say we’re being treated well?”

Representatives from the rural hamlets and First Nation and Metis groups had a meeting with Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee about the amalgamation agreement terms. The groups argued that they face social and economic disadvantages when compared to Fort McMurray. After the meeting Quintal stated “We stepped up and opened our homes and our wallets for Fort McMurray. Our businesses, already struggling from the recession, are paying higher taxes. We still pay higher taxes. We don’t want to turn this into an ugly urban versus rural fight, but when we look at the payoff, enough is enough.” Hopefully the provincial government will be responsive and a compromise can be reached.