WHEREAS the Government of the Province of Alberta gave third reading to Bill 15 ‘Forest and Prairie Protection Amendment Act, 2003 (Magnus)’ on May 16, 2003; AND WHEREAS the Forest and Prairie Protection Act states that this act applies to all land within Alberta except ‘land within the boundaries of an urban municipality where there is no specific provision in this Act to the contrary’; AND WHEREAS the Forest and Prairie Protection Act applies to municipal districts, counties, and the special areas; AND WHEREAS the fire season is the period from April 1 to October 31 in each year unless the time is extended or shortened by the minister responsible; AND WHEREAS the Forest and Prairie Protection Act requires that fire permits be issued for outdoor fires during the fire season; AND WHEREAS the Forest and Prairie Protection Act exempts flare stacks and cooking/warming fires;AND WHEREAS the Forest and Prairie Protection Act requires that fire permits be issued by municipal districts, counties and the special areas for burning barrels during the fire season; AND WHEREAS many municipal districts, counties and the special areas do not have the staff resources to issue fire permits for burning barrels, as required under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties urge the Government of Alberta to amend the Forest and Prairie Protection Act to allow municipal districts, counties and the special areas the option of exempting fire permit requirements for burning barrels in their jurisdiction.

The above points provide sufficient background.

The AAMDC has no resolutions currently in effect with respect to this issue.