A step in the right direction.

1. The Draft LUF acknowledges that bold action is needed to provide solutions to the pressing problems arising from the existing system for land and resource management.
2. The Draft LUF commits to ‘outcome-based management' and consideration of cumulative effects reflecting the full spectrum of economic, environmental and social values held by Albertans.
3. While not specified in the Draft LUF, the Government of Alberta acknowledges the need for new land-use planning legislation to implement these changes.

A new system of land use planning requires fundamental change

Alberta's current system for land and resource management is incapable of meeting current and future challenges. The dominant objective has been to maximize economic growth, despite evidence that many indicators of environmental We cannot simply tinker with the status quo.quality and quality of life are moving in the wrong direction. The Government of Alberta lacks the capacity to manage cumulative impacts. Fundamental changes to law, policy and ‘on the ground' decision-making are needed to correct these deficiencies. Alberta needs a system for planning and decision-making that is conscious of our long-term sustainability (economic, environmental, and social). A regional approach to land use can help move us in the right direction, but continual guidance will be needed.

Implementation strategy, secured funding and integration plan

While the draft Framework provides some broad desired outcomes and a process for the development of regional plans, details concerning implementation must be outlined. As such the Framework must include the following:

• A detailed implementation strategy including timetables for introducing new legislation
• Funding to ensure satisfactory policy development, public involvement and government capacity
• A plan to integrate other provincial initiatives such as Water for Life and the Parks Strategy with the LUF.
• An outline for how local communities will inform with meaningful input into setting land-use and landscape objectives.

New legislation

Improving the way land-use decisions are made in the future will require fixing the problems in the current system. The Framework must explicitly commit to the adoption of new land-use legislation that establishes an effective, transparent and inclusive process, and ensures that regional land-use plans are legally binding on other land-use decisions.

Interim measures

To avoid the development rush, interim measures are needed. The Government of Alberta must establish interim measures in order to avoid a development rush while regional plans are developed in areas of the province where important environmental and social values are at imminent risk (e.g., northeastern Alberta, southern east slopes).

These measures could include:

• Adjustments to land and resource tenures to alter the timing of development
• Incentives and requirements to minimize new disturbance and other impacts
• Restrictions on land re-zoning during the planning process
• Temporary moratoria on new land and resource dispositions and on project approvals.

Accountability for monitoring, enforcement and revisions to plans

The Government of Alberta must establish effective mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation and reporting to ensure land use decisions comply with regional plans and the LUF vision and desired outcomes. This accountability is necessary to fulfill the goals of the LUF. Defined actions for revising land-use plans should be established if desired outcomes are not being achieved.

Setting thresholds that drives permit decisions and local planning

An important part of the LUF is the commitment to using quantitative limits that will drive land-use decisions and reflect the finite carry capacity of the landscape. This process should allow for setting limits to growth for a particular land use. These limits should be informed by the values of local communities and by independent science. Land-use zoning (including protected areas) and other regulatory and market-based instruments will also be needed to manage cumulative impacts and to ensure that land-use plans meet the specific environmental, social and economic objectives that are identified in land-use plans.