Proposed new 'plategate' meeting in Medicine Hat based on distance

Travel distance is themain concern for the Saskatchewan government in its latest spat with Alberta over licence plates.

Saskatchewanrecently proposed that the meeting overthe licence platedispute be movedtoMedicine Hatbecause of its geographic location in relation to the capital cities.

"Travel considerations were on the mind of the Saskatchewan ministers," said a government spokesperson in an email response.

If held in Medicine Hat, the tripwould result in 65 kilometres less travel by road for those coming from Regina.

For those travelling from Edmonton to Medicine Hat instead of Lloydminster, the trip by road would add about250kilometres.

Originally, the meeting was scheduled to take place on Jan. 31 in the border city of Lloydminster, where affectedworkers from both provinces are present.

According to the Alberta government, both parties agreed to hold the meeting at that location.

On Thursday morning, Steven Bonk, minister responsible for innovation and economy, said those details werenever set in stone.

"It was just a location and a date proposed by Alberta," said Bonk.

Meeting location still undetermined

Alberta Economic Development and Trade MinisterDeronBilousisn't keen on the ideaof swapping out summits based on perception of distance.

"This has always been about workers and businesses for us never convenience or geography," said aspokesperson on behalf ofBilousin an email.

"Meeting inLloydminsterwith the heavy construction association gives all of us the opportunity to hear from businesses in both provinces."

There is still no word on where the meeting will be held.

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How it all started

The disagreement stemmed from claims that Saskatchewan residents were being forced to register their vehicles' plates when working on Alberta construction sites.

Alberta denied these allegations.

But Saskatchewan then countered, imposing requirements for Alberta construction workers to register with Saskatchewan plates if working on road projects.

Last month, theLloydminsterHeavy Construction Association said it would host a meeting to discuss the dispute an invitation that ministers from both provinces accepted, according to the Alberta government spokesperson.