Alberta leaseholders still hope new legislation governing their status might be revised.
The government asked a coalition of groups including producers and the Canadian
Association of Petroleum Producers to work on a set of regulations for Bill 31. It deals with
crown land and grazing uses and has received third reading but not proclaimed as law.
“We told them Bill 31 was unworkable in its present form,” said Darcy Davis, who
represents the Alberta Cattle Commission on the committee.
A committee of six producers and two representatives from the oil and gas industry are
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working on the bill. They feel it may not receive royal assent until after the next provincial
election, expected this spring.
A new minister might be willing to revise the bill, said Davis.
“We felt as a committee it is better to deal with the bill as it is, than let the government shelve
it and have the government of the future bring it down and proclaim it at a later date,” said
Davis.
The most contentious issues are the compensation paid by energy companies for access and
controlling public entry.
The legislation will remove oil and gas leases from the rancher’s control and have the
compensation paid directly to the government.
Petroleum and agricultural representatives have said this is not practical. If this clause
continues it could affect compensation paid on deeded land as well as leases.
“It’s pretty clear the oil companies are out to pay as little as possible,” said Davis.
Ranchers also want the right to deny access to seismic testing and recreational users,
especially during spring calving.
