Alberta Building Trades calls on Ottawa to approve Frontier

CALGARY, ALTA. – The Building Trades of Alberta (BTA) is calling on government to approve Teck’s Frontier oil sands project north of Fort McKay in a letter sent to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jonathan Wilkinson.

The letter to Wilkinson outlines the economic benefits of the project, the industry-leading and exceeding environmental provisions in place, and the extent of consultation that has gone into planning Frontier.

“The construction of this mega project is expected to provide up to 7,000 jobs,” said Building Trades of Alberta executive director Terry Parker in a media release. “When it’s complete, the day-to-day operations of Frontier will employ around 2,500 people within its 41-year life span,”

Parker added that the project has the potential to be an “economic game changer” for Alberta and the country, not only in employment, but in revenue generated for the provincial and federal governments.

According to the BTA, the government could see $70-billion in revenue, with roughly $55-billion in provincial royalties and taxes, and $12-billion in federal income and capital taxes.

“Moreover, consultations that have taken place for the past decade have ensured strict environmental standards and protections will be in place, and communities are engaged,” said Parker. “The extent and success of these consultations is evident given recent agreements in place between Teck and all 14 Indigenous communities in the area.”

Parker noted that a report of the Joint Review Panel released last summer determined the project is in the public interest and urged Wilkinson to approve it.

“We’re hopeful he will do the right thing and move Frontier forward,” said Parker.

A final decision on the project is expected by Feb. 28, 2020. The Building Trades of Alberta represents 18 union locals and more than 60,000 skilled-trades women and men in the province.