Fort McMurray Prepares for New Oil Boom Amid Pipeline Proposal

Fort McMurray is preparing for its next economic boom, driven by a new oil pipeline to the West Coast proposed by the Alberta government. The community has seen growth in home prices, investment in the oilpatch, widespread hiring, and increased demand for housing.

Roofer William Gilbert sees his business growing alongside Fort McMurray, with a 20-person crew working as much as they can to keep up with demand. He expects steady hiring over the next few years and foresees doubling or tripling his business during this boom.

The federal government's recent announcements, including wiping away certain environmental policies, speeding up regulatory approvals, and introducing new financial incentives for investors, have fueled optimism in the community.

Despite past oil booms in Fort McMurray being driven by multiple oilsands companies building at once, resulting in labor shortages and equipment competition, local businesses are cautiously optimistic about this potential boom. They acknowledge that a slow and controlled pace of growth is necessary to avoid past mistakes.