The Alberta government has softened its controversial bill designed to assemble land for public infrastructure projects.
Infrastructure minister Jack Hayden tabled draft amendments to Bill 19 in the legislature March 19.
“The intention of the draft amendments is to insure greater certainty for landowners and reassure people they will be treated fairly,” said Hayden during a conference call.
The four proposed changes to the bill include:
- Limits on the time the government has to go ahead with a project so as not to leave landowners in limbo.
- Changes to force government to negotiate with landowners if landowners want to sell. Critics said the bill would put land in legal limbo and not allow landowners to develop or sell their property.
- Measures to allow landowners to have an independent third party decide the market value of a property.
- Procedures to allow landowners to appeal the compensation to the Alberta Court of Appeal.
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Hayden said the overwhelming opposition to the bill surprised him when it was first introduced at the beginning of March.
“I probably shouldn’t have been. With 15 years experience in municipal government, any time you’re dealing with land issues, especially when it involves acquiring land for the greater public good, it’s an emotional issue,” said Hayden, former president of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties.
Hayden said the amendments dramatically improve the bill, especially laying out guidelines on landowner consultation and landowner clarity. He said the bill also strikes a balance between landowner rights and the need for good government planning.
The bill is expected to go to second reading at the beginning of April when the legislature resumes sitting. Hayden said the bill is set to become law before the spring session is finished.
