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“When is the province’s authority to direct us exhausted?” said Councillor Allan Vinni. “When do we take over the running of our community again?

This is no time for a silly turf war.

Schreiber pointed out that the man who’s actually in charge on the ground in Fort McMurray is the city’s own local fire chief, Darby Allen, and that control of the municipality would return to the city has soon as the state of emergency expires at the end of this month. Larivee insisted that she fully respected the autonomy of Wood Buffalo councillors

“Absolutely, you were elected to represent your municipality” she said. “We’re here to help you.”

But to judge from their words, many councillors don’t seem to want provincial help. They just want the freedom to rebuild their own city, their own way, on their own terms.

It’s easy to understand councillors’ frustrations. They’ve weathered a week of hell. Most of them have had to flee their homes. One councillor, Lance Bussieres, lost his own house. They’re dealing with their own stresses and frustrations, and those of frightened, angry constituents. Nobody knows what’s going to happen next. No one has any sense of control.

And Fort McMurray has a right to feel a certain chip on its shoulder. Given the city’s importance to the provincial and national economies, it’s been shockingly short-changed when it comes to major public investment. No wonder resentments linger.

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But this is no time for a silly turf war. This is the biggest public disaster Alberta has ever faced. We are living under an official state of emergency, which gives the province sweeping powers. The first priority is to get the fire under control and then to ensure the city is safe for human habitation. Of course, people want to go home — even if there’s no home to go back to. But recovery from a disaster of this magnitude can’t be managed by one small local government. Fort McMurray needs the expertise and resources of other orders of governments. This is no time for the city to turn its back on help, whether out of pride or pique.