Fort McMurray considering no new work camps

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – As a way to help boost its economy, the region of Wood Buffalo and Fort McMurray is considering no new work camps to attract more people to live in the community.

They’re not the numbers that the Mayor of Wood Buffalo and his council want to see, as a large portion of the population lives in 109 fly-in fly-out work camps.

According to a report from the oil sands community alliance, 58 percent of workers fly from privately owned aerodromes and only 5 per cent actually live in the region, meaning a big number are not paying taxes.

Bradley Karp from Country 93.3 in Fort McMurray says that the city wants more people to call Fort McMurray home.

“Trying to attract people to stay here has been a bit of an issue. When you have 30,000 people who live within 120 kilometers of you and 1 in 6 of them are flying in to the 31 airstrips in the region bypassing the local airports just flying straight in to the site then flying home and not spending a dime in town.” says Karp.

Karp also adds that council is considering taking drastic action.

“Asking for a notice of motion for a council meeting coming up in January that administration takes steps to impose a full on prohibition of any new camp accommodations and end renewals for existing camp accommodations within 120 kilometers of the city.”

He notes that it’s been a tough few years for the community, adding the wildfires didn’t help with already declining vacancy rates.

READ MORE: One year later: A look at the Fort McMurray wildfire and rebuild by the numbers

“It’s a bit of a double whammy. We had the oil price crash and then a lot of people left leading up to the fire and then the fire happened so we went from a town of zero vacancy where people were renting out closets to sleep in, to people begging people to stay in their basements.”

Karp notes that he hasn’t heard how the oil sands community feels about this motion but believes they will be heavily involved in the discussions.