An Alberta separation has been unanimously approved by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo council, setting the stage for a province of Wood Buufalo with former Mayor Melissa Blake being named premier. During the council meeting on Tuesday there was no debate, all of the councillors voted for Wood Buffalo to secede from the Alberta province within 6 minutes. The proposal was put forward by Councillor Tyran Ault, who argued that the council was always being asked to bail out the province. Ault said “It was a real eureka moment for me after I said that. Why not become our own province if we are already doing the province’s work?” This means that royalties and other financial assets will no longer be sent to Alberta, and the region will have better control over local matters.

The Alberta separation move by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo may be costly due to constitutional challenges, and the municipality is in the process of gathering together a large legal team in order to fight any challenges that are issued. New premier and former Mayor Melissa Blake said “I’ve been very vocal that this is the time to catch up on infrastructure and review policies, but that requires lobbying the province and Ottawa. Council realized if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” Lawyers willing to work for the separation will receive free housing and be generously compensated in an effort to attract talented lawyers with the legal knowledge necessary to make the separation happen.