'They're behind': High Level presses Alberta MLA for cash to cover wildfire debts
Nearly three years after a wildfire threatened the northern Alberta town of High Level, officials there are raising the alarm about bills that have not been paid by the Alberta government.
"The fight to save High Level during the Chuckegg Creek Wildfire was epic in scope, and it was successful. But it was also expensive," spokesperson Bill Schnarr wrote in a Friday news release.
The fire, which was sparked by lightning in May 2019, burned an estimated 350,134 hectares of land and destroyed more than a dozen homes in the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement.
High Level spent about $10 million on fire protection for itself and surrounding communities, Schnarr said.
"The Disaster Recovery Program has repaid most of the money, but the town is still sitting on $2.6 million in debt from the event," he wrote.
Town council pressed local MLA Dan Williams for the rest of the money during a public meeting on Tuesday.
'IT IS SADLY A SLOW PROCESS'
"To our community, $2.6 million is huge,” Mayor Crystal McAteer told Williams.
“We are the regional hub and we don't ever get a yes or no answer. So I guess we're just kind of fed up that a lot of money comes out of here and a lot doesn't come back,” she added in an interview with CTV News Edmonton.
Williams did not dispute that the Alberta government owes the money.
Peace River MLA Dan Williams speaks to High Level Town Council on Jan. 25, 2022. (Source: Town of High Level)
"It is sadly a slow process. I'm gonna be honest, I do not understand why. The understanding I have is that it's that forensic level of accounting and they're going through this," he said.
Williams added that other communities are also facing this issue with the government, including Paddle Prairie, Mackenzie County and Northern Lights County.
“It doesn’t bring you any consolation to let you know that you are not alone. There are a lot of disasters and they're behind giving everyone their money back," he said without committing to a date that High Level will be reimbursed.
Schnarr also said High Level has received "no money" for community upgrading, new construction and fire mitigation, but Slave Lake and Fort McMurray did after diasterous fires there.
A spokesperson for Alberta Municipal Affairs said Friday evening that High Level can expect the remaining $2.6 million to be paid by June 30.
“We recognize that the process can seem to take a frustratingly long amount of time and the Minister wholeheartedly sympathises with those who have been impacted by natural disasters and their aftermath," press secretary Greg Smith wrote in a statement.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.