To the editor,
In rural communities throughout our province, Alberta’s new planning and land-use legislation has been the subject of much discussion.
This is certainly true of the communities I represent.
It was also a subject of discussion on the letters page of the St. Paul Journal on March 15 in a letter from Marie Ilchuk.
While the government welcomes the interest of all Albertans, the concerns of some individuals have been stoked by inaccurate and over-the-top rhetoric about the erosion of our democracy and the elimination of long-standing rights.
Some individuals have misinterpreted the Alberta Land Stewardship Act, for example, as an attack on property rights.
This is simply false. Many government members, including cabinet ministers and the premier, are landowners. I am a landowner. We know the value of land to Albertans, and understand that land ownership is deeply embedded in the history and culture of our province.
The Government of Alberta will always respect all existing property rights.
To clarify the original intent of the stewardship legislation – to plan for the future needs of Albertans and manage growth, while respecting existing property rights – the government introduced Bill 10, the Alberta Land Stewardship Amendment Act. Bill 10 also makes it clear that all existing rights of landowners to compensation remain in place.
As well, Bill 10 creates a review process for people who believe they are directly and adversely affected by a regional plan. It will require public consultation during the development of regional plans and that draft regional plans are provided to the Legislature before approval.
It is important to remember why the government initiated regional plans under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act – to help us manage the multiple and sometimes competing pressures on our land in a province with a fast-growing province and ever-increasing population. Albertans have endorsed the idea of responsible, co-ordinated, long-term planning.
Regional plans will help us consider the cumulative effects of all our activities on our air, land, water and biodiversity. They will help us balance economic development with our environmental goals and community objectives.
The government has a responsibility to plan for the future needs of Albertans. All Albertans have a stake in regional plans and I urge you to be involved in this important enterprise.
Mel Knight
Minister of Sustainable Resource Development
