BONNYVILLE – The Crane Lake Advisory & Stewardship Society (CLASS) brought its concerns to Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr during a private meeting held at the Shaw House on Feb. 24.
Earlier in the week, CLASS member Mel Hofer told Lakeland This Week that he had been informed by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) that there had been a large influx of statements of concern (SOC) surrounding Lotus Creek Exploration Inc (formerly Gear Energy) drilling for oil under Crane Lake.
“[I] spoke with Matthew Bonko with the Calgary AER. He notes that this is one of the most SOCs he has seen,” said Hofer.
Renato Gandia, a spokesperson with the AER, said the Lotus Creek Exploration Inc. application for the Crane Lake project remains active, and explained the process involved in addressing the statements of concern.
“[T]he regulator reviews each SOC, considers the concerns raised in relation to the applications, and a statutory decision maker will make a decision on the SOC in relation to the application. The SOC is considered as part of the regulatory review before the AER makes a decision on the project,” said Gandia.
A CLASS representative invited Lakeland This Week/Lakeland Today to attend the meeting hosted by Cyr, but after confirming attendance, Lakeland This Week was notified by Cyr’s office that the media was not invited to attend.
However, following the meeting, Cyr told Lakeland This Week the large turnout for the meeting demonstrated the depth of concern within the community, and said the issue deserves careful consideration.
“I have been in direct contact with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and industry stakeholders. My focus is to ensure that I have a thorough understanding of the complexities while ensuring that community concerns are addressed transparently,” said Cyr.
The MLA said he is commiting to several key actions including requesting more information from the AER.
“The AER has world class employees and I’m certain that they will bring clarity to the concerns the residents have,” said Cyr.
Cyr says he will submit a letter to Environment and Parks requesting a study of groundwater conditions in the Crane Lake catchment area, and review industry regulations.
“I will be asking the Ministry of Energy and Minerals to review current regulations to assess whether companies drilling near water bodies have the financial and operational capacity to conduct proper cleanup or reclamation in the event of a failure,” said Cyr.
CLASS member Rick Senez said the meeting was “respectful at all times,” and CLASS was given the opportunity to share their “concerns about notification and engagement,” as well as their concerns about the sensitive ecosystem of Crane Lake.
Cyr said attendees were concerned about the project’s expedited timeline and questioned whether the regulatory framework balances industry interests with community and environmental protections.
“Residents at the meeting made it clear that they are not anti oil and gas. Rather, they want transparency, proper consultation, and a regulatory process that prioritizes environmental protection alongside economic activity,” said Cyr.
A major concern raised during the meeting was the company's capacity to manage a worst-case scenario for the environment. Cyr said it is an important question that his office will look into.
Local ecologist and CLASS member Marsha Hayward presented her concerns during the meeting, and said she is not only concerned about the ecological impact of the horizontal drilling, but how it adds to the cumulative effect on the lake when taking into consideration the industrial activity already taking place around the lake, and recreational damage.
CLASS member Alyssa Noel said the meeting lasted two and a half hours, and CLASS appreciated the time everyone was given to voice their concerns.
“Our ultimate hope would be to have no horizontal directional drilling under Crane Lake, for the sake of wildlife and generations of locals to come. But, barring that, we offered suggestions we’d like to see moving forward. It’s unclear at this time if any will be taken seriously, but we’re hopeful,” said Noel.
MD of Bonnyville Reeve Barry Kalinski, CAO Ben Berlinguette, and Coun. Dana Swigart were all reportedly in attendance.
“Speaking for myself, I felt Swigart asked some good questions and seemed very concerned about this issue,” said Noel.
Cyr commented on the importance of the lake, and the municipal representatives who were on hand to hear the concerns being raised.
“Crane Lake is one of the most beautiful parts of my constituency and I want to make sure that it stays that way, and I remain committed to working with residents to ensure their voices are heard. Coun. Swigart is a great champion for his ward, and I’m looking forward to working with the chair of the Crane Lake group,” said Cyr.
Reeve Barry Kalinski said he understood the concerns raised by CLASS, though explained that the MD does not get the final say on the matter.
“I see their concern, and I learned some stuff from the presentation, but in the end it’s the Alberta Government’s decision. We’re not the ones who approve or deny it . . . It looks like the company took out all the proper permits and everything, it’s just that it’s under the lake - the residents are pretty concerned, and I don’t blame them,” said Kalinski.
Cyr said moving forward he plans to continue engagement with CLASS, the MD of Bonnyville, industry stakeholders, and provincial authorities to ensure transparency and accountability.
Cyr encourages residents to submit their concerns directly to the province and industry, saying that individual responses carry significant weight in policy discussions.
“Ultimately, my goal is to protect Crane Lake for both current residents and future generations while ensuring that industrial projects in the region adhere to the highest standards of safety, consultation, and environmental responsibility,” said Cyr.
