Fort McMurray, Alberta

Fort McMurray is a hamlet in the northeastern part of Canada's western province of Alberta, in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Alberta. Although it is commonly referred to and thought of as being a city, Fort McMurray is no longer incorporated. Thus, Fort McMurray has the status of being the largest unincorporated "city" in Alberta, and possibly Canada.

Economics

Fort McMurray is considered the heart of one of Alberta's (and Canada's) major hubs of oil production, located near the Athabasca Oil Sands. Besides the oil sands, which dominate, its industries rely on natural gas and pipeline sectors, forestry and tourism. The two largest oil sand mining companies are Syncrude and Suncor. For further information on the petroleum industry in Alberta, see oilpatch.

Related Topics:
Oil - Athabasca Oil Sands - Oil sands - Natural gas - Pipeline - Forestry - Tourism - Syncrude - Suncor - Oilpatch

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Housing prices and rents are far higher in Fort McMurray than one would expect in such a remote area with land prices considerably higher than Edmonton, the nearest big city. The municipal government is pressuring the Albertan government to release more Crown land for residential construction.

Related Topics:
Housing - Rents - Albertan government - Crown land

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Transportation to and from Fort McMurray is also problematic. Highway 63, the main highway between Fort McMurray and Edmonton, is regularly congested, resulting in lengthened and costly travel times, not to mention issues of safety, accelerated road deterioration and reduction in quality of life to residents. One recent survey revealed that 96 per cent of Fort McMurray residents see traffic on Highway 63 as a significant problem. The aging railway between Fort McMurray and the capital is also in need of improvement, which would allow for the movement of more heavy loads to take place away from the highway, and possibly allow for passenger service as well.

Related Topics:
Transportation - Highway 63 - Railway

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