<strong>Title: </strong> <a href="/link.php?id=9124" target="_blank">Oilsands boom overwhelming Fort McMurray: mayor</a> (click to view)

<strong>Category:</strong> <a href="/modules.php?name=News_Links&file=category&catid=17" target="_blank">Business</a>
<strong>Posted By: </strong> <a href="/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=userinfo&username=Streaker" target="_blank">Streaker</a>
<strong>Date: </strong> 2006-07-19 13:09:24
<strong>Canadian</strong>

   

good story....impact on the environment and the infastructure of the area is an important factor often overlooked in the name of progress....and profit.

   

What they SHOULD do is take all that money they want to use for the expansions and put it back into the city.

   

I'd say tax the companies that are investing in the oil sands but the righties on here would just call me a Commie or a socialist.


But the fact is someone has to pay for it, either the provincial government or the companies creating the boom should pay for it (or some combination of the two). And with rising oil prices, either (or both) should have plenty to take care of the probelm.

   

If the oil sand companies want to expand, they need to pay for it. They need to put the infrastructure into the city in order to sustain THEIR expansions.

Fort McMurray isn't asking for this, it's the oil lauding, money grabbing greedy companies that want it. They should pay for it.

7 billion dollar expansion?? Take that 7 billion and build more houses, the new bridge over the Athabasca, the new schools and the new water treatment plant.

They'll make that money back in less than two years anyway. THEN apply for the expansion.

Also, they need to start making on their promises and getting the land reclamation rolling.

   

Hmmm, Fort McMurray has always had a crime problem. I lived there for 20+ years and drugs and assault has always been higher than the rest of Canada. Sure it might be incrementally worse now, but it's hardly a benchmark.

   

We must have lived in different parts of town Mr March because I certainly didn't see much crime or drugs until I was in college lol

   

Must have. There were drugs in the schools that I started noticing in Grade Nine. Soft stuff like pot at first, but didn't take long for others to show up in lockers or at parties. Prostitution and assault have always been an issue, especially since Fort Mac was so small and so many people had nothing to do. My dad worked at the plants and in town for decades and has many an interesting tales to tell

   

which high school did you go to?

   

My stepdad lived in the fording camp many years ago while he ran the bucketwheel,I heard lots of stories also.
Drugs,prostitutes and gambling were very prevailent even back then. That type of criminal activity seems to gravitate to places where folks are making big bucks.

   

Westwood

   

Oh yeah. Fort McMurray is basically just a mining town on a much larger scale. Most of the work force is male, from out of the province, and Fort Mac has very limited resources in the way of recreation or entertainment (unless you're an outdoors type). Big money being made, long hours, and nothing to do after work. Drugs, prostitution, and gambling hot bed. Always has been.

When I moved to Calgary and got a job, one of my coworkers had worked in the Casino industry. He said Boomtown Casino in Fort McMurray had the highest take per head of any Casino in Western Canada

   

I think it was early 70's he was there. Said they found bodies under the camp when they dismantled it,something to do with unpaid gambling debts. Could be an urban legend though.

   

Damn! I admit, I've not heard that one. I wouldn't think too much stuff like that goes on, unless it's an axe murder downtown

   

Seriously? So did I. from 94 to 98