On May 26, 2010, with no opposition, City Council passed the third reading of an important amendment to the MDP protecting Edmonton’s river valley from industrial development.
The amended MDP includes the following provision:
Except where resource extraction is required to the extent necessary to accommodate an approved development, [and] subject to federal and provincial overriding approvals, resource extraction is prohibited within the North Saskatchewan River Valley and Ravine System in order to preserve its ecological value.
The Society is very pleased with this decision representing Council’s commitment to protecting Edmonton’s pristine river valley; they are to be congratulated for their foresight.
While this is indeed a victory, we must continue to exercise diligence in monitoring Kanata’s (or any other proponent’s) efforts to maneuver around existing bylaws. This amendment has far-reaching implications. Edmontonians should celebrate Council’s decision to further protect the river valley from industrial development.
