About 20 northern Alberta municipalities and industry associations are joining forces to lobby for better rail freight service for their region. The Community Rail Advocacy Alliance plans to lobby the federal and provincial government and talk to CP and CN in hopes of improving what its members say is inconsistent access to rail cars in northern Alberta. Members include the Alberta Forest Products Association, the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, Grande Prairie, Edson, High Level, Slake Lake, Whitecourt, Peace River, Mackenzie County, Northern Sunrise County, County of Northern Lights and the Municipal District of Peace. Industry associations are frustrated about rail access for their members. Municipal councils are concerned about the effects on their communities. “One of our local industry partners had to reduce shifts and of course now you’re talking about people’s jobs,” Edson Mayor Kevin Zahara said.