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Land Stewardship Act changes fall short, says local MLA

A local MLA says the Province’s proposed changes to the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA) do not go far enough.

A local MLA says the Province’s proposed changes to the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA) do not go far enough.

Airdrie-Chestermere MLA Rob Anderson said attempts to amend and clarify the controversial Bill 36, which critics say rob landowners of their property rights, actually make the document worse.

“There is no doubt that they are worried about the uproar in rural communities about Bill 36 and their hemorrhaging support to the Wildrose Alliance over it,” said Anderson. “These (proposed changes) don’t change what is wrong with the original bill. I think people aren’t going to be fooled by it.”

In January, Premier Ed Stelmach ordered a review of the ALSA after critics attacked the bill because it erodes property rights.

The amending act, Bill 10, which will be debated in the legislature this spring, proposes several changes to the public consultation and review process. It is also meant to clarify the purpose and scope of regional plans, give landowners the right to appeal or seek compensation, and return some power to municipalities.

However, Anderson said the bill does nothing to ensure public input is included in future plans, creates loopholes and takes the power from local decision-makers.

“We aren’t talking about regional plans, we are talking about central planning,” said Anderson. “There is no accountability if they screw up.”

Minister of Sustainable Resources Mel Knight said the bill should clear up concerns he encountered in meetings across the province for the past year.

“I listened to Albertans corner to corner across the province,” said Knight. “People clearly were not happy with some of the interpretation of the legislation. I was told (by the premier) if there were things that required change, to do it.”

Knight said much of the concern for the ALSA centres on land titles and mineral rights and the understanding that the regional planning document has the overriding say over other laws, such as those governing mining or forestry.

“All of that stuff where people had concern is not part of ALSA,” he said. “ALSA is not a document that overrides every other piece of legislation. I hope this will clarify that… it is a planning document for Albertans meant to make sure we have clear air and water and ensure that the environment isn’t completely cluttered and that we have development that is planned.”

Vocal opponent and lawyer Keith Wilson said he met with Knight, Feb. 28, to review the legislation before it was introduced.

“There are some important improvements,” said Wilson. “However, the broad powers of the cabinet to rescind water licences, crown mineral leases, oil sands development permits and grazing permits, all remain intact, so that is concerning to me.”

He says the amendments do nothing to remove the unprecedented powers of the ALSA.

“The cabinet can simply take these things away, whenever it wants, it doesn’t have to justify it, they can just do it,” said Wilson. “That is what is unprecedented.”

Wilson said the amending document is “loaded and cleverly crafted.”

“It creates the illusion that something has been given to you, but you aren’t being given anything,” said Wilson. “It creates additional confusion in the law.”

Wilson said he intends to continue fighting the ALSA by answering questions and speaking out against the legislation.

Anderson agreed.

“This is going to be a big battle, and if it goes through, the only way to repeal Bill 36 will be to elect a new government.”


Airdrie Today Staff

About the Author: Airdrie Today Staff

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