More PC's at the at the feed bunk. Well at least Evan Berger will have someone to keep him company.
EDMONTON - The Alberta government named the province’s first property rights advocate Monday, the latest in ongoing government efforts to diffuse anger among rural voters concerned about land rights.
Justice Minister Jonathan Denis named Lethbridge lawyer Lee Cutforth to the post, a fourth-generation Albertan who grew up working on his family’s farm.
“The advocate will ensure individuals, municipalities, government and industry are aware of the principles enshrined in our legislation,” Denis said in a statement.
“I am pleased Mr. Cutforth has agreed to take on this very important role and I am confident he will be a significant resource for Albertans.”
Cutforth will serve in the position for three years under the terms of the Property Rights Advocate Act, which was proclaimed in March following provincewide consultations with Albertans.
Cutforth will report to the Justice minister and is required to table an annual report. His office will be in Lethbridge and is expected to open in January.
Controversy surrounding provincial property rights legislation has dogged the Progressive Conservatives since 2009, when the Tories passed the Alberta Land Stewardship Act, then known as Bill 36.
Critics and opposition parties argued the bill gave the Tory cabinet too much power to “extinguish” rights in secret without recourse to the courts.
Other bills also came under fire, including the Land Assembly Project Area Act (Bill 19), the Electric Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 50), and the Carbon Capture and Storage Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 24).
The Wildrose party successfully turned land rights into a political wedge issue, and though the Redford government significantly amended the controversial bills before the spring election, the party still suffered sweeping defeat in the southern regions of the province.
More to come …
kkleiss@edmontonjournal.com
Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Alberta government names property rights advocate/7677823/story.html#ixzz2EkEdsowH
EDMONTON - The Alberta government named the province’s first property rights advocate Monday, the latest in ongoing government efforts to diffuse anger among rural voters concerned about land rights.
Justice Minister Jonathan Denis named Lethbridge lawyer Lee Cutforth to the post, a fourth-generation Albertan who grew up working on his family’s farm.
“The advocate will ensure individuals, municipalities, government and industry are aware of the principles enshrined in our legislation,” Denis said in a statement.
“I am pleased Mr. Cutforth has agreed to take on this very important role and I am confident he will be a significant resource for Albertans.”
Cutforth will serve in the position for three years under the terms of the Property Rights Advocate Act, which was proclaimed in March following provincewide consultations with Albertans.
Cutforth will report to the Justice minister and is required to table an annual report. His office will be in Lethbridge and is expected to open in January.
Controversy surrounding provincial property rights legislation has dogged the Progressive Conservatives since 2009, when the Tories passed the Alberta Land Stewardship Act, then known as Bill 36.
Critics and opposition parties argued the bill gave the Tory cabinet too much power to “extinguish” rights in secret without recourse to the courts.
Other bills also came under fire, including the Land Assembly Project Area Act (Bill 19), the Electric Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 50), and the Carbon Capture and Storage Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 24).
The Wildrose party successfully turned land rights into a political wedge issue, and though the Redford government significantly amended the controversial bills before the spring election, the party still suffered sweeping defeat in the southern regions of the province.
More to come …
kkleiss@edmontonjournal.com
Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Alberta government names property rights advocate/7677823/story.html#ixzz2EkEdsowH
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