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We Listened..........INCREDIBLE!
We Listened……..Incredible!
Feb 22/12
Yesterday the Alberta government released the report on the “Task Force on Property Rights”. This task force involved several public open house meetings where the appointed ministers did the BIG LISTEN! In addition there were written submissions and an online survey.
Chair Diana McQueen released the report yesterday. Mostly it was not an accurate representation of what was actually said! The overlying message was “Repeal the Bills”, but somehow Diana either missed that message….or more likely she was pressured by the Redford cabinet to bring out this drivel! You can almost see Ted Morton’s hand all over this report.
The “government response” to this report recognizes four areas that need to be addressed:
(1) Better consultation before legislation is enacted that takes property.
(2) Ability to access the courts.
(3) Fair compensation.
(4) The appointment of a “property rights advocate office”.
Now I think we can all agree those are noble goals……..after they correct the four land thefts that have already taken place? No one is going to buy this drivel for “future legislation” until they repeal the four land theft bills!........the old trust us thing isn’t working anymore? We don’t trust you! We don’t believe anything you say!
So let’s take a look at these four responses from the government:
(1) Better consultation- Good idea. If there had been better consultation on every one of the bills, the message would have been “We don’t want these bills. They are not necessary”? Which we suspect is exactly why......... there was no consultation?
(2) Ability to access the courts- Again good idea. If the government is sincere about this they will give us access to challenge the illegal taking of our property by the four bills, that have in fact denied us access to the courts?
(3) Fair compensation- Who decides what is fair compensation? The Surface Rights Board? The Land Compensation Board? Who are they? Who appoints them? We might suggest landowners elect both of these boards……after all it is our property?
(4) The appointment of a “Property Rights Advocate”. How about instead of Redford appointing a “Property Rights Advocate”, landowners elect one? And how about instead of it being a “feel good” position, we give that advocate some real teeth to veto projects, impose conditions, and set costs? And just to make sure the Property Rights Advocate won’t sell out to the oil companies, or big power companies, we give the landowners the right to recall him/her?
Of course none of the above suggestions will make it to the government table. In fact once the government is firmly back in the saddle……nothing will be done!
Well, we shouldn’t say that……..because, Yes indeed, something will be done! The assault will speed up……count on it!
Diana McQueen has already signalled “ In the coming year Albertans need to have a discussion on water” and we assume that means the same as past “We need a discussion” on C02…….or regional planning…….or infrastructure land acquisition……..or securing our power transmission needs? How did that work for you?
In other words…get ready….the government's coming for your water!
There is a solution……….vote these thieves out. Bring in a government that will Repeal these bills and give us a Property Protection Act! ………hmmmm......sort of like what the people told the task force!
ASRG
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We Listened..........INCREDIBLE!
We Listened……..Incredible!
Feb 22/12
Yesterday the Alberta government released the report on the “Task Force on Property Rights”. This task force involved several public open house meetings where the appointed ministers did the BIG LISTEN! In addition there were written submissions and an online survey.
Chair Diana McQueen released the report yesterday. Mostly it was not an accurate representation of what was actually said! The overlying message was “Repeal the Bills”, but somehow Diana either missed that message….or more likely she was pressured by the Redford cabinet to bring out this drivel! You can almost see Ted Morton’s hand all over this report.
The “government response” to this report recognizes four areas that need to be addressed:
(1) Better consultation before legislation is enacted that takes property.
(2) Ability to access the courts.
(3) Fair compensation.
(4) The appointment of a “property rights advocate office”.
Now I think we can all agree those are noble goals……..after they correct the four land thefts that have already taken place? No one is going to buy this drivel for “future legislation” until they repeal the four land theft bills!........the old trust us thing isn’t working anymore? We don’t trust you! We don’t believe anything you say!
So let’s take a look at these four responses from the government:
(1) Better consultation- Good idea. If there had been better consultation on every one of the bills, the message would have been “We don’t want these bills. They are not necessary”? Which we suspect is exactly why......... there was no consultation?
(2) Ability to access the courts- Again good idea. If the government is sincere about this they will give us access to challenge the illegal taking of our property by the four bills, that have in fact denied us access to the courts?
(3) Fair compensation- Who decides what is fair compensation? The Surface Rights Board? The Land Compensation Board? Who are they? Who appoints them? We might suggest landowners elect both of these boards……after all it is our property?
(4) The appointment of a “Property Rights Advocate”. How about instead of Redford appointing a “Property Rights Advocate”, landowners elect one? And how about instead of it being a “feel good” position, we give that advocate some real teeth to veto projects, impose conditions, and set costs? And just to make sure the Property Rights Advocate won’t sell out to the oil companies, or big power companies, we give the landowners the right to recall him/her?
Of course none of the above suggestions will make it to the government table. In fact once the government is firmly back in the saddle……nothing will be done!
Well, we shouldn’t say that……..because, Yes indeed, something will be done! The assault will speed up……count on it!
Diana McQueen has already signalled “ In the coming year Albertans need to have a discussion on water” and we assume that means the same as past “We need a discussion” on C02…….or regional planning…….or infrastructure land acquisition……..or securing our power transmission needs? How did that work for you?
In other words…get ready….the government's coming for your water!
There is a solution……….vote these thieves out. Bring in a government that will Repeal these bills and give us a Property Protection Act! ………hmmmm......sort of like what the people told the task force!
ASRG
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