Moldy Peaches

Years of hard work from multiple provincial politicians, mainly on the Saskatchewan side of the ledger, have finally brought a deal between Alberta and Saskatchewan on a new northern highway. Alberta will now have easier access to a new labour pool for the exploding tar sands and northern tourism in Saskatchewan should flourish.

Last week, the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan officially announced a plan for construction of the La Loche Road. The project will cost $45-million and will be completed within the next three years, cutting travel time between La Loche and Fort McMurray from 10 hours to less than two.

With up to 15,000 new jobs expected to be created by the massive oil sands projects in northern Alberta, La Loche Mayor Georgina Jolibois believes the road will open up new opportunities for residents of northern communities such as Buffalo Narrows, Ile-a-La-Crosse and her own village. Unemployment among the largely aboriginal population of about 2,300 in the La Loche area is estimated as high as 90 per cent.

Hat tip to Accidential Deliberations.

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