Alberta Land Stewardship Act Frequently Asked Questions

By setting out the regional planning process and the importance of regional plans, the Act potentially affects all activities on the land and all Albertans. We all share responsibility for the management to be good stewards of our land and natural resources.

ALSA makes regional plans binding on:

• All provincial government departments and decision-making boards and agencies
• Municipalities and local government authorities
• Industry, including companies with mineral rights leases and forestry management agreements as well as agricultural operations
• All Albertans

To support the Act, amendments to more than 27 legislative Acts are required to ensure that provincial and local government boards and authorities align their activities and decisions with regional plans. Consequential amendments provide the administrative tools to enable the government to direct planning requirements and processes for the province:

• Administrative Penalties and Related Matters Statutes Amendment Act 2002
• Agricultural Operation Practices Act
• Agricultural Pests Act
• Alberta Utilities Commission Act
• Coal Conservation Act
• Electric Utilities Act
• Energy Resources Conservation Act
• Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act
• Forests Act
• Highways Development and Protection Act
• Historical Resources Act
• Interpretation Act
• Irrigation Districts Act
• Mines and Minerals Act
• Municipal Government Act
• Natural Resources Conservation Board Act
• Oil and Gas Conservation Act
• Oil Sands Conservation Act
• Pipeline Act
• Post-secondary Learning Act
• Provincial Parks Act
• Public Highways Development Act
• Public Lands Act
• Water Act
• Wilderness Areas, Ecological Reserves, Natural Areas and Heritage Rangeland Act
• Wildlife Act

Upon proclamation. ALSA was proclaimed on October 1, 2009.

ALSA sets up a strong, provincially led regional planning system. Government will provide direction for the development of regional plans, including strategies that will have to be implemented as part of regional plans. Government will appoint regional advisory councils, which will consist of members representing a wide range of interests, expertise and experience within each region.

Regional advisory councils will provide advice to government on what should be in the regional plans. Plans will be coordinated by the Land Use Secretariat, and will be reviewed and approved by Cabinet. They will become legally binding government policy, which give the government the ability to ensure the plans are followed.

The Alberta government conducted information sessions with residents, stakeholders and Aboriginal communities concerning ALSA during the spring and summer of 2009.

• Alberta Land Stewardship Act - Presentation Highlights - May 2009 (7 pages)

Regional plans must be reviewed at least every 10 years, and may be reviewed sooner if needed.

The secretariat is an organization within the public service, independent of any existing ministry that will support Cabinet, government ministries, regional advisory councils and local governments in developing and implementing regional plans. It will provide information and technical support to these bodies and help prepare draft and final regional plans.

Yes. ALSA clearly states that its purpose is to enable sustainable development by taking account of and responding to the cumulative effects of our activities on the land.

Municipalities and local government authorities will have the same decision-making authority as they now have, but they will have to align their plans, bylaws and decisions with regional plans.

Those plans are immediate priorities under the Land-use Framework, and municipalities in both regions have devoted a lot of time and effort to the development of effective, long-term plans. Our intent is to ensure alignment of both plans with regional plans as these are developed.

The legislation requires that existing provincial and municipal authorities that make decisions affecting industry, such as the Energy Resources Conservation Board, comply with regional plans.

The legislation is intended to create more certainty for industry. When regional plans are in place, industry will know the regional blueprint they have to follow, and will have a better idea of how their activities fit within that plan. This will give them more certainty in planning their own activities and investments.

This Act ensures that any regulations or programs around recreational activities or the development of parks align with regional plans. The government is developing a strategy for managing recreational use of public lands.

A provincial transportation and utility corridors policy is being developed. Regional plans will help support the development and implementation of this policy.

Through ALSA, the government will require existing processes and agencies to comply with the direction in the regional plans.

The only new compensation provided by ALSA is in the case of conservation directives, and only when there is a loss in market value of land as a result of the directives. Otherwise, compensation is only available as already allowed under Alberta’s laws—such as under the Expropriation Act.

In a regional plan, the government may require that a specific valued, sensitive or scenic landscape be set aside for conservation or protection. If there is a decrease in the market value of the land as a result, the titleholder can apply for compensation. The titleholder continues to own the land.

Alberta recognizes that those First Nations and Métis communities that hold constitutionally protected rights are uniquely positioned to inform land-use planning. We continue to consult and work with Aboriginal communities across the province.