Local residents are frustrated with the governmentís response to the property rights task force recommendations, released Feb. 21.
ìThey are just throwing us some bones,î said Crossfield-area landowner Grant Budgeon. ìTo me it shows they arenít listening to what landownersí No. 1 solution to the problems are.î
Premier Alison Redfordís property rights task force hosted open houses in 10 communities in January with the stated purpose of listening to Albertans as they shared their concerns about property rights.
The task force report, Engagement with Albertans, was released Feb. 21 and stated residents wanted active consultation on land use, assurance on access to courts and compensation.
It also summarizes a range of issues brought forward to the task force and ideas to address those concerns.
In response, the Province introduced Bill 6: The Property Rights Advocate Act to establish a property rights advocate office, which will report to the Minister of Alberta Justice and Attorney General, share independent and impartial information about property rights and help people determine the right resolution mechanism including the courts.
The government has also promised to take steps to improve consultation with with Albertans and review The Expropriation Act and The Surface Rights Act in response to concerns raised.
ìWe are responding to Albertans,î said Diana McQueen, minister of Alberta environment and water.
ìCombined with significant measures this government has taken to address growth pressures and plan for the future, the property rights advocate will serve as a valuable resource to Alberta landowners.î
Budgeon, who attended the Olds property task force meeting on Jan. 11, said attendees strongly expressed a desire for the government to repeal The Land Stewardship Act, The Electrical Transmission Act and The Land Expropriation Act.
Media reports from across the province corroborate Budgeonís view that repealing the laws was the No. 1 solution for many Albertans.
ìThey are still not listening,î he said. ìThere is still an agenda and it is still top-down.î
Rocky View Councillor Greg Boehlke, who also attended the Olds meeting, agreed.
ìTo me it is a lame response to what they heard from the voting public,î he said.
ìThere was no question in my mind what people thought. What they said unequivocally was ërepeal the bills.íî
Landowner advocate Keith Wilson said the governmentís response was ìbizarre.î
ìThe government is creating an advocacy office to help protect Albertans against the laws they have created,î he said. ìWhy donít they just undo these bad laws?î
Wilson said he is concerned the government wonít consider repealing the laws.
ìThe reality is, what they have announced is a joke,î he said.
ìThey have ignored the clear concerns that have been raised from every corner of the province about The Land Stewardship Act amounting to European-style central powers and giving the cabinet too much powerÖ and they are moving full steam ahead of it. I am very surprised and deeply disappointed.î
