BONNYVILLE – During a public hearing on March 9, MD of Bonnyville resident Warren Garnier spoke out against a proposed bylaw that would see a road allowance agreement be granted to increase a grazing area for an adjacent landowner.
The road allowance indicated by proposed Bylaw No. 1792 is located along the west boundary of private property located on the West Boundaries of NW 18-64-5-W4M, SW 19-64-5-W4M and NW 19-64-5-W4M.
Under the proposed bylaw, a new Roadway Licensing Agreement application is intended to be used for grazing and to reduce fire hazards, according to MD of Bonnyville documents.
Speaking before the MD of Bonnyville Council, Garnier stated he would like to see council reject the Roadway Licensing Agreement that feeds into the Wolf Lake Provincial Grazing Reserve on several grounds.
“I am against this because five years ago, we had this same thing come up and a bunch of people got together, our neighbours had come and said ‘No, we don't want this’,” Garnier expressed to council.
“We want this left for wildlife and for people to access... the Wolf Lake pasture, where we can go on quads, skidoos and all that stuff – wildlife needs a place to live too, here in our world.”
Garnier went on to say that the small increase of grazing land that would be achieved through an approved road allowance agreement for the rancher would have less value than keeping the area open to the public and wildlife.
“Why should we be taking the public's land away from them, that they utilize – whether it be going to take pictures of wildlife... and all that stuff.”
Garnier said if cattle are brought into that corridor to graze, there will be nothing left for the wildlife that use that area to feed.
“This is not needed for this person. If you need to take the public land to sustain your herd and you already (have) a bunch of land, there's something wrong with the system,” he added.
Coun. Dana Swigart told Garnier he appreciated that he took the time to speak to council and voice his concerns.
Speaking of the fact that the MD council has approved similar Roadway Licensing Agreements and bylaws in the past, Coun. Don Slipchuck highlighted the challenges of determining whether a bylaw should be passed.
"We have done this so many times, if we deny this one, are we going to have to go back and deny all the other ones too then?” Slipchuck questioned.
The second reading of Bylaw No. 1792 will appear on the next agenda for the MD council, scheduled for March 23. Council will then decide if they will proceed with third reading.
