Land-use Framework (February 16)
Mr. Hehr: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The land-use framework progress report was released last week, and despite the report being labelled a progress report, I can see very little progress that has actually happened.
To the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. It’s been well over a year since the land-use framework was created, and only two regional plans are in the process of being established. When can we finally expect to see anything concrete come out of the land-use framework?
Mr. Knight: Well, Mr. Speaker, the land-use framework initiative, of course, is extremely important for all areas of Alberta. But let’s be reasonable about how we’re going to approach this thing because I don’t think that it would be in anybody’s interest, particularly not in the interests of Albertans, to go out there with a shotgun approach and try to develop a land-use framework for all seven regions at the same time. We’ve done some very, very good work in the lower Athabasca, and that plan is moving ahead now very nicely. The regional advisory commission have most of their work together, and we are expecting a report from them at the end of March.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Hehr: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the minister: has there been some meaningful consultation done with the Métis communities in those areas?
Mr. Knight: Yes, Mr. Speaker, in fact, they have. There are aboriginal people involved in the regional advisory committee, so they have representation on the committees and are responsible for taking that information back to their own communities. We know that this is one of the areas that in order for this to be successful, we will continue and we have to continue to have meaningful consultation with aboriginal groups.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Hehr: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the same minister. Developments in Sylvan Lake are currently happening that will have a major impact on the Red Deer regional plan that is being created. How will these developments, that are going forward as we speak, be dealt with by your department without the actual implementation of the land-use framework having gone through yet?
Mr. Knight: Well, Mr. Speaker, that is one issue of many. Of course, as the member opposite would very well understand and realize, you cannot stop the development of the province of Alberta while you develop a land-use framework and then start again. The natural gas industry in Alberta is again, you know, going to come to the fore. The development of forestry continues. The development of communities across the province continues. The land-use framework will have to take into account all of those developments as it moves forward and as we get the plans in place.
Alberta Hansard, February 16, 2010