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By Shaun Penner

Crown Land Disposition renewal process a concern for County

Jan 31, 2019 | 4:30 AM

The County of Grande Prairie will be approaching the Rural Municipalities of Alberta regarding the provinces updated policy on renewals of Crown Land Dispositions.

County council passed a resolution on Monday, which will now be put forward to the R.M.A. to be passed. The biggest concerns for the county are the not-for-profit organizations that lease the crown land are facing a lack of clarity when it comes to the renewal process.

“(These organizations) are now being led to believe that they can only renew for 10 years, whereas before they were getting 25-year dispositions.” Says Leanne Beaupre, Reeve for the County of Grande Prairie.

But, as Beaupre points out, that is not the case. The 10-year renewal was added as an option on top of the standard 25-year renewal. Beaupre wants this resolution passed by the provincial government so that the miscommunication can be cleared up, and to remove the challenges organizations like non-profits face in the renewal process.

The biggest challenge for not-for-profits is that upon renewal, a security deposit of $1,000 per acre is required. As many of these groups generate little to no revenue, a burden is placed on the organizations and municipalities to help fund the renewal process.

“Many not-for-profits run on a very lean budget, so those costs are usually onerous on them. They usually then come looking for some funding or grant funding to cover them,” said Beaupre. “So as municipalities, we are asking the government to take a look at these, and either waive the cost or at least be up front about the fact that they can apply for 25-year (dispositions), which can be a little more cost effective.”

Beaupre does understand that many for-profit organizations go through the same issue when renewing their leases, but a focus on organizations that can’t generate the needed funds to apply for renewal is the focus at this time.

“They certainly aren’t generating revenue. They are providing a service, sometimes to those that are disadvantaged. It just puts more pressure on them to have to raise more funds, which usually come from a municipal government, through a grant process.”

Anyone looking for more information about Crown Land Dispositions can find it on the Alberta Government’s website.

by Shaun Penner