Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

FORT SMITH (Jul 13/98) - The environmental impact and a lack of funds are both contributing to the standstill on the proposed Wood Buffalo Park road.

But Masood Hassan, director of transportation with the territorial government, said his department is putting pressure on the federal government to move ahead on the proposal.

"We have made our views known that we certainly do support a road connection from Fort Smith southwards," said Hassan.

If a road is to be built through the park it will have to be funded by the federal government. The GNWT will not be dedicating funds for the road, he said, because it will run through the province of Alberta. Estimates for the proposed all-weather road run as high as $18 million.

"Somebody has to own the road and since the road goes through the park I presume that if the road is built it would be managed by the park," he said.

Although parks officials say a road will not be for park purposes, Hassan said a major purpose would be to provide access to the park facilities from that part of the country.

John Maine, chief administrative officer with the municipal district of Mackenzie No. 23 in Fort Vermilion, Alta., on the west side of the park, doesn't expect to see a road link with Fort Smith for at least another five years, if at all.

"Without monetary commitment from anyone towards that road, it just won't happen."

Maine said his department is supportive, but can't afford to contribute.

"I think a road like that would probably create considerable tourism," he said.

"In that respect what I would rather see right now for us in northern Alberta is Highway 88 paved because Highway 88 has 250 kilometres of gravel road and at certain times of the year you don't travel on it if you don't have to simply because it's so dusty."

Five years ago Fort Vermilion was an improvement district but now it's a "separate corporate entity" and as a result no longer has access to the same level of funding from Alberta.

"We'd like to do more for our own ratepayers in our own area rather than an areas outside," he said.