Premier Alison Redford announced a task force to look at Albertans’ concerns regarding property rights, Nov. 24.
The move came as a result of pressure from Alberta landowner rights advocates and groups, such as lawyer Keith Wilson who conducted a province-wide speaking tour raising concern about various legislation.
“We have heard concerns from landowners that their property rights need to be better respected,” said Redford.
“We need to move towards a more common-sense approach when it comes to property rights.”
Diana McQueen, minister of environment and water and Evan Berger, minister of agriculture and rural development will head the task force.
Other members include Verlyn Olson, minister of justice and attorney general; Jeff Johnson, minister of infrastructure; Cal Dallas, minister of intergovernmental, International and Aboriginal relations; Frank Oberle, minister of sustainable resource development; Raymond Prins, MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka; and Arno Doerksen, MLA for Strathmore Brooks.
All are members of the Progressive Conservative party.
“We want to listen to Albertans and have a discussion about what property rights mean to them and what needs to be improved,” said McQueen in a press release.
The meetings will take place in December with stakeholders, followed by open houses in January in several communities. A website will also allow Albertans to provide written input on property rights.
The Wildrose party released a press release, Nov. 24, slamming the task force.
A chief concern for the Wildrose is the membership of the task force, all of whom supported the laws that landowners oppose, according to the release.
“For years, landowners literally screamed at this government to get its attention as they passed four terrible pieces of legislation that trampled on their rights,” Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith said of bills 19, 24, 36 and 50.
“Well it’s too late. Landowners aren’t stupid, like this government seems to think they are.”
Airdrie-Chestermere MLA Rob Anderson agreed.
“This is like inmates running the asylum,” he said. “These are the folks who told people that these land bills were strengthening property rights.”
Anderson said the best solution would be to repeal all four bills and start from scratch, ensuring that landowners are given full compensation for their land and access to the courts.
He added local governments, rather than regional ones, should make local planning decisions and said the legislation as it stands is frightening.
“It is very scary, very centralized,” he said. “It didn’t work for socialism, for communism and it doesn’t work in a democracy.”
The Province has promised to release more details about the open houses as they become available.
