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Alberta property rights legislation fight begins

Livingstone-Macleod MLA Pat Stier introduced a bill to overturn parts of Alberta Land Stewardship Act
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A local MLA is working to overturn parts of provincial land-use legislation he argues infringes on basic property rights

Livingstone-Macleod MLA Pat Stier has introduced private members legislation Bill-210 – the Protection of Property Rights Statutes Amendment Act – aiming to overturn sections of the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA) and the Responsible Energy Act.

He is targeting sections of ALSA he says infringe on the right for recourse through the courts, the right for fair and timely compensation and the right for fair hearings to mitigate harm.

“A person should be able to fight it or they should be able to seek compensation if that is ultimately what has to happen,” said Stier.

Bill-210 has received first reading and Stier said it will come forward for further debate in the legislature.

The former Progressive Conservative government approved ALSA in 2009. It divided the province into seven land-use regions and required the creation of a plan for each area, including Calgary and Edmonton.

ALSA came under heavy criticism before it was approved. Opponents say provisions within the law infringed on property rights, didn’t allow for compensation and didn’t let people challenge regional plans in court.