Action Alerts

Let your voice be heard! Attend the Land Use Framework open house near you.

A plan is being developed that will guide land-use decisions in Southern Alberta for decades to come. The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan under the Land-use Framework will set a new direction for how we live, work, enjoy and protect our land and natural heritage. Have a voice on your land, your plan, your future.

Alberta is currently engaged in a new land-use planning process, which is designed to balance environmental, ecological, and cultural needs. A regional advisory council (RAC) has been working on the plan for the South Saskatchewan region (where we live), for the past few months. This plan is slated for completion by the end of 2010. Once the plan is completed it will become law and any changes will be very challenging to implement. Help make sure the South Saskatchewan regional plan contains YOUR priorities for the landscape, ecology, and environment of Southern Alberta.

Some potential topics you may want to voice at the open house include:

• The legislated protection of the Castle Special Place.
• The need to effectively prioritize ecological integrity of the Southern Alberta landscape. This will help ensure our clean water, healthy forests and ecosystems for future generations.
• The need to protect areas of environmental importance through the creation of protected areas and other conservation tools.
• The need to allow flexibility in the plan so that when additional scientific research becomes available, the plan can be flexible enough in its response to effectively incorporate new science.
• The need to plan for connectivity. We need to ensure core habitats (like protected areas) are connected to allow for large animal movement across the landscape and to allow for ecosystem resiliency in the face of climate change.
• The need to account for the impacts climate change is going to have on the ecosystems of southern Alberta.
• The need to recover the grizzly bear population and improve its core habitat in southern Alberta.

More importantly than voicing any of the above points is to voice YOUR concerns. This is the most important land-use planning process Alberta has seen in over 20 years. Make sure this plan reflects YOUR needs, your children's needs, and your Province's needs.

Please plan to attend. The sessions start on November 30 and end on December 10, 2009.

The sessions run from 4 to 7 p.m. in each of the 16 locations listed below.

Monday November 30
Calgary - Glenmore Inn - West Glenmore Room - 2720 Glenmore Trail SE
Vulcan - Vulcan Legion Hall 202 -1st Avenue South

Tuesday December 1
Strathmore - Strathmore Travelodge - Heritage Ballroom - 350 Ridge Road
Claresholm - Claresholm Community Centre - 59 Av & 8 St W

Wednesday December 2
Cochrane - Cochrane RancheHouse - 101 RancheHouse Road
Okotoks - Holy Cross Lutheran Church - 20 Banister Gate

Thursday December 3
Airdrie - Airdrie Alliance Church - 1604 Summerfield Blvd SE
Canmore - Quality Resort Chateau - 1720 Bow Valley Trail

Monday December 7
Lethbridge - Eagles Hall - 631 13 St N
Brooks - Brooks Heritage Inn - 1217 2 Street West

Tuesday December 8
Fort Macleod - United Church Hall - 220 20 St
Medicine Hat - Coast Hotel - Cabernet Room - 3216 13th Ave SE

Wednesday December 9
Pincher Creek - Ramada Inn - 1132 Table Mountain St
Taber - Taber Legion Hall - 5205 48 Ave

Thursday December 10
Cardston - Remington Carriage Museum - 623 Main St
Milk River - Heritage Hall - 213 Main St N

Please pass this information on to anyone who would be interested in attending. If you have any questions, you can contact:

Dave Bartesko, RPFT
Senior Consultation Manager
Land-use Secretariat
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Telephone: (780) 422-4871
Fax: (780) 644-1034
Email: dave.bartesko@gov.ab.ca
LUF Website: http://www.landuse.gov.ab.ca
LUF Email: LUF@gov.ab.ca

Back to top
Return to Main menu