Around 25 residents took part in a rally lobbying for the approval of Teck Resources’ Frontier project.
Canada Action and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 955 invited residents on Friday to come out and support the proposed project.
It would be located north of Fort McMurray next to Wood Buffalo National Park.
Chief Operating Officer at Canada Action Lynn Nellis tells Mix News the economic impact Frontier would have is unmatched.
“This is billions of dollars in infrastructure that could be built here and we think it’s really important that people know that we are open for business as Canadians, that we have a stable regulatory regime, and that we are here to build.”
Canadians have been split on whether to approve the project.
Some are concerned with the potential impact it could have on the environment and climate.
However, Nellis believes Teck has shown they are willing to find a middle ground.
“We all care about the environment, we all care about global emissions – Teck is an example of the innovation and the transformation that’s happening here at the oilsands.”
Multiple Indigenous groups, including the Fort McMurray #468 First Nation, Fort McMurray Mtis, Fort McKay Mtis, Willow Lake Mtis Nation, and the Athabasca Landing Mtis, have publicly supported Frontier.
Chris Flett and Lynn Nellis // Steph Seidel – Harvard Broadcasting
If approved, it would create around 7,000 jobs during construction and another 2,500 through operations.
“It’s my responsibility to find work for my members in the future and a Teck mine could be some long-term stable work for the community,” said Chris Flett, Business Manager of IUOE Local 955.
The federal government is expected to make a decision on the project by the end of the month.
-With files from Steph Seidel