Faced with a severe housing shortage, the booming oilsands city of Fort McMurray, Alta., is going ahead with a controversial plan to allow work camps for up to 300 construction workers, even in its downtown core.

Municipal councillors gave the go-ahead Tuesday night, despite concerns that the camps will worsen crime and drug problems in the city of 56,000.

Some people in the city fear the presence of hundreds of single men on as many as eight sites will threaten the safety of women and children.




"I work with men during the day and I know how some act," said Lesley McGlenen, a 20-year-old construction worker. "I want to be able to walk down the street without guys after me all the time."

The work camp proposal has been creating debate in the regional municipality of Wood Buffalo for weeks.

The city has grown dramatically because of frenzied activity at nearby oilsands projects, leaving newcomers with literally nowhere to live at a time when many jobs in Fort McMurray remain unfilled.

The rental vacancy rate is zero and hotels are full. Even trailer homes can cost up to $300,000.

The high cost of living means developers can't attract construction workers to build new homes or other facilities.

Employers have been asking for some kind of low-cost housing to attract workers in the face of competition from oilsands companies offering much higher wages.

Municipal councillors voted for the work camps proposal despite a flood of opposition, in part because the municipal government itself has a tough time finding people to build a long list of projects, including a new recreation centre and water treatment plants.

"We need to inject something fast in order to make this community work and that is what we are trying to do," said Coun.Carolyn Slade.

The bylaw establishing the camps requires the council to revisit the issue in early 2009.

The camps will likely consist of trailers and other support buildings. On-site security will be mandatory.