Mackenzie County P.O

Mackenzie County P.O. Box 640, 4511-46 Avenue, Fort Vermilion, AB T0H 1N0 P: (780) 927-3718 Toll Free: 1-877-927-0677 F: (780) 927-4266 www.mackenziecounty.com [email protected]

September 16, 2015

The Honourable Shannon Phillips Minister of Alberta Environment and Parks 208 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6

Dear Minister:

RE: EAST PEACE RESOURCE ROAD

Mackenzie County, Northern Sunrise County and the MD of Opportunity passed a motion requesting support from The Honorable Robin Campbell, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development and The Honorable Wayne Drysdale, Minister of Transportation, on upgrading a road through the Blue Hills area (Mackenzie County) to Peace River known as the East Peace Resource Road (P5 Road) with year-around access.

Prior meetings held by the three municipalities requested that Alberta Transportation considers this important North-South Alberta link in their transportation plans. The three municipalities believe this route is paramount for future resource extraction.

In a follow up letter from the Minister of Transportation, they stated that, although extensive discussions were held to explore potential solutions, they determined there were no strategies available, including any type of fencing, which would mitigate all the impacts that the road development would have on wildlife.

Mackenzie County has been encouraged to evaluate other options such as entering into discussions with the local grain elevator in High Level to increase their capacity and maximize the use of the current rail system in place.

We have been encouraged by our ratepayers to reach out to you to discuss the above determinations further.

…2 Alberta Environment and Parks Page 2 September 16, 2015

Mackenzie County is requesting a meeting with you to discuss this further at your earliest convenience. I can be contacted at (780) 841-1806 or you may contact our Chief Administrative Officer, Joulia Whittleton, at (780) 927-3718 for meeting arrangements.

Sincerely

Bill Neufeld Reeve

Encls. c: Hon. Brian Mason, Minister of Transportation Ms. Debbie Jabbour, MLA – Peace River Ms. Danielle Larivee, MLA – Lesser Slave Lake Mackenzie County Council Joulia Whittleton, Chief Administrative Officer MD of Opportunity Council Northern Sunrise County Council

109 Beaver Ranch IR #163a

Beaver Ranch Hwy 88 IR #163 Bushe River Child Lake Boyer River 108 IR IR IR Fort Vermilion #207 #164a #164 IR #173b P5 ROADMachesis Lake 107 Fort Provincial Forest Vermilion

Hwy 697

Mackenzie Hwy 106 La Crete Highway 88 Connector MACKENZIE COUNTY 105 COUNTY OF NORTHERN LIGHTS Tallcree 104 IR Hwy 697 #173a

103 Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement #1 Tallcree IR #173 102 P5 ROAD Hwy 88

Carcajou Settlement

101 IR #187 Wadlin 26th Base Line Lake Indian 100 Reserve #173c 99 P5 ROAD 98 6 5 NORTHERN LIGHTS COUNTY OF NORTHERN LIGHTS 4 3 2 97 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 25th Base Line MACKENZIE COUNTY 96 NORTHERN SUNRISE COUNTY

95 Notikewin Provincial P5 ROAD Park 94

COUNTY 93 24th Base Line

92 Manning Provincial Grazing Reserve OF

91 SUNRISE Manning P5 ROAD UPGRADED 90

89 23rd Base Line

Whitemud 88 Provincial Grazing Reserve 87 LoonLake Red Earth Creek LEGEND: Woodland Cree IR 235 IR 226 86 IR 227 Hwy 986 P5 ROAD COUNTY NORTHERN P5 ROAD UPGRADED IR 228 85 Hwy 986 Three Creeks COMMUNITY22nd Base Line Provincial Figure 8 Lake Recreational Area Grazing Reserve 84

Sixth Meridian Peace River Greene Valley Provincial Park COUNTY Peace River Duncan IR 155B Provincial IR 151K DISCLAIMER Hwy 88 Park SUNRISEInformation on this map is provided solelyUtikoomak for the user's information and, while thought to be accurate,Lake is provided IR 155 CANA83-10TM115 strictly "as is" and without warranty of any kind, eitherIR express 155A NORTHERN or implied. The County, its agents, employees or contractors will not be NOT TO SCALE liable for any damages, direct or indirect, or lost profits or data arising out of use of information provided on this map. ALBERTA TRANSPORTATION Office ofthe Minister MM, Grande Prairie- Wapiti

AR6 1608

April 7,2014

Mr. Bill Neufeld Reeve Mackenzie County P0 Box 640 Fort Vermilion, AB TOH INO

Dear Reeve Neufeld:

Thank you for your letter regarding the East Peace Resource Road being upgraded to provide access year round. As Minister of Transportation, I am pleased to respond.

My department currently has no plans to expand the highway network with an additional north-south corridor in this area. The completion of the paving of Highway 88 in 2014, provides year round access for the area. As you noted, the East Peace Resource Road has been used by the resource sectors for the past several years. Since this is a private road, public finds cannot be used to fund improvements. I encourage you to work with the resource sector to discuss the upgrading of this road as they are the current users and road authority.

Should the road become a public road, this project could possibly qualii~’ for Resource Road Program (RRP) funding. Although the RRP is not currently funded in Budget 2014, this project would be considered under the program should it meet all the program’s criteria when funding becomes available.

Thank you for taking the time to write.

Sincerely,

Wayne Drysdale APR 172014 Minister

cc: Honourable Frank Oberle, MLA Peace River MACKENZIE COUNTY Pearl Calahasen, MLA Lesser Slave Lake FORT VERMILION OFFICE

324 Legislature Building, 10800 . 97 Avenue, Edmonton, Aiberta T5K 2B6 Canada Telephone 780-427-2080 Fax 780-422-2722 100, Junction Point Village, 9814-97 Street, Grande Prairie, Alberta T8V 8H5 Canada Telephone 780-538-1800 Fax 780-538-1802

JWa,edan reryrted paper

September 11, 2014

The Honourable Robin Campbell Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development 323 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6

Dear Minister:

RE: EAST PEACE RESOURCE ROAD

Mackenzie County, Northern Sunrise County and the MD of Opportunity passed a motion requesting your support for upgrading a road through the Blue Hills area (Mackenzie County) to Peace River known as the East Peace Resource Road (P5 Road) with year-around access. Please see the attached map.

During our prior meetings, the three municipalities requested that Alberta Transportation considers this important North-South Alberta link in their transportation plans. We believe this route is paramount for future resource extraction.

Thank you for your consideration and we are looking forward to working with you on this initiative.