WHEREAS changes to policy regarding maintenance and renewal of Alberta Environment and Parks dispositions now requires a security deposit to be held for Crown land leases for municipalities; and

WHEREAS the changes have also forced non-profit organizations to turn to local municipalities and seek unbudgeted financial support and administration guidance to renew dispositions; and

WHEREAS the new security deposit requirement for crown land dispositions is not practical or financially sustainable for municipalities or non-profit organizations wishing to maintain or renew their dispositions; and

WHEREAS the security deposit is taking funds from a lower level of government to a higher level;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta request that the Government of Alberta remove the requirement for municipalities to provide a security to receive Crown land dispositions. 

Municipalities that hold dispositions on Crown land have demonstrated excellent stewardship of the land and Alberta Environment and Parks has alternate means of ensuring Crown lands are satisfactorily reclaimed following the cancellation of a disposition.

RMA has no active resolutions directly related to this issue.

Alberta Environment and Parks

As you know, municipalities are important partners in land management, including the stewardship of Crown land. Local municipalities are exempt from providing reclamation security, if they are operating under an approval, registration or code of practice, per s. 17.1 of the Conservation and Reclamation Regulation.

Not-for-profit organizations do very important work for society as a whole; however, they are not exempt from providing security on the Crown lands they lease under the Conservation and Reclamation Regulation and the Public Lands Administration Regulation (both available at www.qp.alberta.ca). Reclamation security is an essential component of Alberta’s regulatory regime, and not-for-profits must provide reclamation security on Crown lands in an amount and form acceptable to the director.

RMA appreciates the Government of Alberta response that local municipalities are exempt from providing reclamation security if they are operating under an approval, registration, or code of practice, per s. 17.1 of the Conservation and Reclamation Regulation. However, this resolution is stating that municipalities are being held accountable to pay a security deposit for dispositions on Crown land. RMA staff will follow up with the sponsoring municipality to gain further context on what instances they have had to pay a security deposit and will follow up with AEP once the information is received. RMA assigns this resolution a status of Intent Not Met and will update this resolution once clarity has been received.