Alberta accused of just going through the motions on consultation

The province of Alberta, through its Sustainable Resource department, released a draft plan on April 5 that will guide development in the Lower Athabasca region of northern Alberta.

First Nations and environmental organizations say, however, that despite their best efforts to provide input into the plan, their voices have gone unheard.

Melody Lepine, director of government and industry relations with the Mikisew Cree First Nation, said her northern band is concerned about the lack of protection for woodland caribou found in the Lower Athabasca Regional draft plan (LARP).

She said First Nations recommended that 40 per cent of the region be classified as protected area. The draft plan has designated only 16 per cent as protected.