Westlock — Members of the province's Property Rights Task Force were greeted with an overwhelming cry of "repeal the bills, repeal the bills, repeal the bills" at an open house meeting Tuesday night in Westlock.
In December Premier Alison Redford assigned eight MLAs with the task of travelling the province to hear about property rights issues and the legislation the province has recently brought on those issues.
The open house in Westlock attracted many residents from the Morinville and Sturgeon County areas. Residents were split into four groups with one MLA sitting with each to hear from them.
All four groups had similar opinions, accusing the government of not listening and of bringing anti-democratic legislation that curtails landowner rights.
The complaints centred on several government bills that have passed, dealing with critical infrastructure projects, land-use planning and government land purchases for major projects.
St. Albert-area farmer Terry Bokenfohr drove to Westlock for the meeting and said he was glad the government was taking the time to hear from landowners.
"I think it is wise that the government is setting up these forums and I hope they take the advice to heart," he said.
Bokenfohr, whose farm is threatened by the proposed Highway 2 bypass route, said he is confident the four MLAs who were there Tuesday were listening, but they need to take the advice to the rest of government.
"I think the individual ministers that are here will take it into consideration when they are at cabinet. The problem that I see is that the bureaucracy to a certain extent has to change its mindset so the whole balance shifts," he said.
Bokenfohr said he came to the meeting to tell the government to let landowners in on the discussions early.
"Prior to any of these major projects being done, consultation should be taking place with the people who are going to be most affected," he said.
Other landowners at the meeting called for the government to enshrine property rights in a constitution and to clearly give landowners more say.
Early days
The panel still has other meetings across the province, said Minister of Environment and Water Dianna McQueen. While the response on repealing the bills has been common across the sessions so far, she still wants to hear from more people.
"We will take what we hear, it will all be put in the report, it will go to caucus, to government as a public report," she said.
The report is due at the end of January. Until the task force has a full understanding of what they've heard, it can't make future plans, McQueen said.
"We really need to go around and have the consultation and then have a conversation with government about what might be feasible."
Minister of Infrastructure and local MLA Jeff Johnson agreed it is far too early to decide how the government might respond, but he believes Redford has shown clearly she will act if she sees a problem.
"The premier has no handcuffs on her," Johnson said. "I think she has shown if anything else that she is willing to wipe the slate clean and take whatever action she has to do."
Johnson said the point of the task force is to listen, but he also believes there is some misinformation about the land-use legislation that will have to be addressed.
"Although there are very legitimate concerns, there is also a real lack of clarity and understanding on what these bills are all about, why they were created, what they actually say and what are the implications for the landowner," he said.
McQueen and the other MLAs didn't engage in any debate or attempt to correct members of the public about the land-use bills Tuesday night. She said that is not the point of the task force.
"Tonight was not about us debating or correcting people on what they think about the legislation," she said. "It is really about us listening."
The task force will continue with open houses mostly in southern Alberta until next week. An online survey that asks for input on property rights issues is available at: www.propertyrights.alberta.ca.
