Is the provincial government failing to uphold a promise made by Jim Prentice when he was premier concerning the Moose Lake Reserve? This is exactly what the Fort McKay First Nation is accusing the government of doing. In a statement from the First Nation group Prosper Petroleum Ltd. Plans for an oilsands lease situated near the reserve have been approved by the Aboriginal Consultation Office, but the Fort McKay First Nation has been working together with Alberta Environment so that the area can be protected. Early last year when he was still premier a letter of intent was signed by Prentice for the development of an access management plan for the reserve area which surrounded the lake. A statement by Chief Jim Boucher explained “Former premier Jim Prentice recognized that Moose Lake is the last and best remaining area in which Fort McKay can preserve its heritage and cultural activities.”

Indigenous Relations Minister for Alberta, Richard Feehan, explained that when public hearings on the Moose Lake Reserve application start the Fort McKay First Nation will have the chance to argue their case. Feehan said that having both review processes going at the same time is not unusual and is common, and he stated “The one process we are committed to is the Moose Lake Management Plan… At the same time, industry has been asked to move ahead with work they want to do and that triggers a series of processes. We know Moose Lake is important to them in a cultural and ceremonial sense.” According to First Nation Sustainability Department Director Alvaro Pinto any central processing facility located within 10 kilometres of the Moose Lake Reserve is unacceptable to the chief and the council, and the facility planned by Prosper Petroleum would only be 3 kilometres away.