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By Curtis Galbraith

Agriculture

Province to update crown land grazing regulations and fees

Oct 16, 2019 | 2:35 PM

The provincial government says it is bringing in what it calls “much-needed modernizations” to the legislation governing fees ranchers pay to graze livestock on public land.

Environment and Parks Minister Jason Nixon spoke on the Public Lands Modernization proposal at a Tuesday news conference.

“This act will modernize the public land disposition grazing fee framework by allowing updates to the grazing distribution rental rates and assignment fees. This act will also lead to the establishment of a dedicated revenue stream that will support rangeland sustainability initiatives to ensure the long-term success of the industry and environmental health and stability of Alberta’s rangelands.”

He adds the revenue stream idea came from stakeholder groups.

“(It) will ensure the long-term success of Alberta’s rangelands. This dedicated revenue stream will support and improve existing initiatives within government’s role as landowner and resource manager.”

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The government says rate changes would be phased in over five years and go up and down based on how the industry is doing. Fees have been frozen since 1994.

Nixon says the bill includes a two-zone grazing system where fees charged in the north would be different than those in the south.

“As you can imagine, ranching in High Level with its climate and shorter growing season brings different challenges than are found in Lethbridge and our new rental rate formula takes this into account. We’ve developed these changes as a collaboration with our industry partners and have wide-spread support for these changes because ranchers understand, as government does, that it’s time to update the system so that it’s fair for everyone.”

Nixon adds the current framework was put in place in 1960.

The province also says in a release that the changes should also head off trade challenges like tariffs from the Americans, who might see the current set-up as a subsidy.”