"Today's rapid growth in population andeconomic activity is placing unprecedented pressure on Alberta landscapes...we have reached a tipping point where sticking with the old rules will not produce the quality of life we have come to expect. If we want our children to enjoy the same quality of life that currentgenerations have, we need a new land use system"Draft Land Use Framework, Government ofAlberta, 2008
There is a growing consensus amongAlbertans that the current system of land-use planning is broken. A survey1of over 3,000 concerned Albertans indicated their top three concerns related toland use were:
- The failure to consider the combined (or cumulative) effects of land use activities;
- Loss of biodiversity and wildlife habitat;
- Failure to consider the impacts on water supply during land use planning.
In the same survey, 95 percent ofrespondents said the government must establish new approaches to land use; 80percent said they would be willing to set limits for growth and resourcedevelopment.
Latest News
Environmental Law Centre provides extensive commentary on Alberta Land Stewardship Act
Building on its initial commentary on the proposed Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA), the Alberta Environmental Law Centre (ELC) has provided a detailed analysis of ALSA . This new document gives detailed comments for each section of Bill 36 to support ELC's initital critique of ALSA.
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Environmental Law Centre expresses concerns about proposed Alberta Land Stewardship Act
The Alberta Environmental Law Centre (ELC), the province’s foremost commentator on the law and environment has voiced concerns about the Bill 36, the proposed Alberta Land-use Stewardship Act (ALSA) . ELC commends ALSA as “a positive step to give legal effect and support to the provincial Land Use Framework initiative,” but voices serious concerns about ALSA’s:
-Broad discretion and with little accountability
-Lack of planning criteria
-Limited rights to appeal or participate
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Alberta Land-use Planning Legislation Introduced — New legislation is a big step forward but leaves much to Cabinet's discretion
On April 28th, the Alberta government tabled the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA),Bill 36. The bill is a step toward the system of land-use planningpromised by Alberta's Land-use Framework. The bill empowers theprovincial government with new powers to guide regional land-useplanning - a step away from conflicting decision-making bodies and thedominance of municipal planning on the landscape. Key amendments,however, will be required to make the ALSA effective.
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Sub-regional land-use planning rolls out in Calgary and Edmonton metropolitan areas
As Alberta's Land Use Framework begins with regional plans in the LowerAthabasca and South Saskatchewan regions, sub-regional planning for theEdmonton and Calgary areas are already out of the gate. However, theCapital Region Integrated Growth Management Board and the CalgaryRegional Partnership have taken different paths to reach their currentstatus.
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Proposed Land Stewardship Law Needs Strengthening to Ensure Results
Meeting Albertans' expectations on land-use planning requires stronger accountability
Calgary, April 28, 2009 -A few critical additions, including mandatory public consultation andbinding limits on cumulative impacts, are needed if proposed newprovincial land-use planning legislation is to better managedevelopment and its impacts on Alberta's landscapes and communities.
Bill 36, The Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA),tabled yesterday in the provincial legislature, is a step toward asystem of land-use planning that fulfills the promises of Alberta'sLand-use Framework and meets the needs of Albertans.
Read the full press release at Water Matters or Pembina Institute websites.
Your feedback can help set targets in the Calgary Regional Partnership's land-use plan
The CRP is a regional partnership of eighteen municipalities and one First Nation in the Calgary area. After years of inter-jurisdictional challenges these municipalities decided in undertake land use planning as regional partnership. The province has recognized the importance of this partnership formally by stating its plan will be adopted as part of the provincial land-use framework. When the final plan is adopted, it will be considered binding on issues as diverse as development, conservation, services, waste water, and transportation. The degree to which ecological goods and services are protected will be front and center to the discussion.
The CRP needs to hear from you!
Click here to learn more and to see a schedule of meetings in communities around Alberta.
Final Land-use Framework Policy Document Released
December 3, 2008 — The Government of Alberta released its much-anticipated Land-use Framework today. The report is available from the government's website:
Download the Land-use Framework Final Report
Read the governments's media release
Read the joint response and checklist by Pembina Institute and CPAWS (Northern Alberta)
Read the media release from Water Matters
Stay tuned for opportunities to provide inputand more analysis of the plan.
Update: Selection Process for the South Regional Advisory Council (RAC) has begun
Earlier this month Minister of Sustainable ResourceDevelopment Ted Morton distributed letters to various stakeholder groups across southern Alberta for expression of interest in participating on the regionaladvisory council for the development of the South Alberta Regional Planunder the Land-use Framework.
The selection process will mirror that of theone being used to develop the RAC for the North East which began last month. Learn more...
New report providesimplementation roadmap for making the LUF real
Released October 17, 2008 a new report by the PembinaInstitute and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) NorthernAlberta provides the Government of Alberta with a proposed implementationroadmap for the LUF. Learn more...
Download the report
Read the press release
