Vol. 21 No. 3
Initial Public Consultation Begins on Alberta Land Use Framework
By Dean Watt
Staff Counsel
Environmental Law Centre
Alberta’s dynamic economy, fuelled largely by oil and gas development, has resulted in an increase in the number and type of land use conflicts. Cities are sprawling outwards as the influx of workers to meet Alberta labour needs translates into increased demands for urban residential development. Along the Calgary to Edmonton corridor, prime agricultural land has given way to residential development and the development of associated infrastructure. Meanwhile, forested land, which is only marginally appropriate for agriculture, is being cleared for agricultural purposes, at the expense of vital wildlife habitat. Elsewhere in the province, the development of oil and gas resources and the associated construction of roads, pipelines and other facilities fragment wilderness areas and native grasslands, to the detriment of wildlife, recreational users and ranchers. In addition, increased growth in all sectors has put increasing pressure on Alberta’s water resources. Alberta has a fixed land base and limited resources; it has become clear that there is a need for management of the increasing and conflicting demands that are placed on the land by a variety of uses.
The Government of Alberta has begun public consultation respecting the development of a comprehensive Land Use Framework for the province. In a precursor to more extensive public consultations expected to take place in early 2007, the Canada West Foundation, a public policy research institute, has been contracted by the Alberta government to conduct a series of stakeholder focus groups throughout the province with the intention of identifying the desired attributes or characteristics for such a Land Use Framework. Also, the provincial department of Municipal Affairs, in conjunction with the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties and the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, is inviting municipalities to identify representatives to participate in the creation of the Land Use Framework through attendance at sessions designed to allow municipalities to provide their input respecting the key challenges and issues facing land use in Alberta and the key characteristics and attributes the framework should embody to deal with these challenges.
Representatives from the Alberta Sustainable Resource and Environmental Management (SREM) cross-Ministry initiative expressed, at a Canada West Focus group meeting held in Edmonton, that further cross-stakeholder consultation would take place prior to the preparation of a draft Land Use Framework, upon which additional consultation would be based. Information about the proposed Land Use Framework and the expected timetable for future consultations will be posted on the SREM website:
http://www.srem.gov.ab.ca/luf.html.
Comments on this article may be sent to the editor at elc@elc.ab.ca.
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