Suncor mandates local residency for 200 oilsands maintenance positions
Fort McMurray push to localize workforce marks shift away from transient work-camp model.
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Suncor Energy is requiring some maintenance workers at its oilsands operations to be Fort McMurray residents, a move affecting roughly 200 positions and marking a shift toward a more localized workforce in northern Alberta.
"Last month, Suncor issued a letter to a limited group of maintenance vendors who perform work in our fixed plant operations and whose work we believe could be supported through a more localized workforce," the company said Thursday.
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Mayor Sandy Bowman said conversations between the company, municipal officials, and himself began more than a year ago. The push reflects a desire to strengthen the community as the oilsands transition away from the traditional fly-in-fly-out model, where workers live in camps and rotate in and out.
"They see the value in their employees working here, being able to go home each night with their families and have a better work-life balance," Bowman told CBC News.
Similar conversations have recently started with Imperial Oil and Canadian Natural Resources. The 2025 census for Wood Buffalo reported more than 21,000 transient workers, a 22 per cent drop from 2021. Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean praised the move, saying he hopes other oilsands companies follow Suncor's example.