Property rights and land use are key issues for agricultural groups as they watch Alberta’s election campaign unfold.
The Progressive Conservatives, which have held government for 41 years, introduced several bills in recent years that raised concern about property rights and landowners’ ability to obtain or challenge compensation amounts provided for land used for public projects.
Those concerns have become an issue in the election campaign that culminates April 23.
“Most importantly, we need to address all these land use and land rights issues. There’s still a lot of work to be done there,” said Alberta Beef Producers chair Doug Sawyer.
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The Wildrose Alliance party, which has emerged as the chief rival to the PCs, has promised to repeal the controversial bills, while the PCs have amended some bills and promised a review of others.
“We’d sure like the opportunity and a commitment from them to work on substantial changes,” said Sawyer about the eventual winner.
Among the controversial legislation was Bill 50, the Electric Statutes Amendment Act, which asserts the need for additional electrical transmission lines.
That bill is a concern for Wild Rose Agricultural Producers, Alberta’s general farm group.
“We’re saying (that) since it seems to be such a big concern for producers, and some groups are going around saying our power bills are going to triple over the next so many years … we think maybe the decisions by the present government should be revisited,” said WRAP president Lynn Jacobson.
“We probably need some more electrical generation, but we’re not quite sure we need the amount that’s been proposed. There doesn’t seem to be the checks and balances on building a transmission line.”
Jacobson also said clarity is needed on landowners’ rights because the letter of the law and the opinions of those who oppose it are in major disconnect.
Kevin Bender, president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, said he has trouble believing a PC government would threaten property rights, but ack-nowledged there is controversy.
Doug Robertson of the Western Barley Growers Association said his group will be looking to the next government for action to improve grain shipping through the Port of Prince Rupert in Northern British Columbia where the province has an investment.
As well, barley growers want the Alberta government to help pressure the federal government to complete a rail service review so railways understand their commitments to levels of service.
Provincial support on grain issues was also on Matt Sawyer’s wish list. The chair of the Alberta Barley Commission said his group has few other major requests of the next government but supports a continuing emphasis on trade.
Trade is definitely an issue for ABP, added Doug Sawyer.
“We have to make sure industry can take advantage of global markets,” he said. “We need research. We need joint ventures on research. We need a commitment from the provincial government to continue with research and to also entice researchers.”
Wildrose has said it will scrap the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency if it is elected, which worries Sawyer. ALMA allocates research money to livestock related projects.
“I am a bit concerned on the Wildrose platform about getting rid of ALMA. They don’t have another place that I can find where the money that ALMA was putting into market development and research is coming back. It seems like it’s a budget cut.”
