'Ridiculous' idea 'reeks' say aspiring premiers
By Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald September 7, 2011 6:52 AM
Source:http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Tough+find+Tory+likes+sale+grasslands/5362889/story.html
"Too much politics - I don't understand the motivation," said Doug Griffiths, one of two provincial Progresive Conservative leadership candidates who met with the Herald's editorial board on Tuesday.
Griffiths said the land bidding process announced by Sustainable Resource Development Minister Mel Knight last week doesn't make sense on multiple fronts - including that only one or two bidders are positioned to purchase such a large chunk of land, and that a land plan that will take into account the environmental effects of such a sale isn't complete.
"What is the rush, what is the hurry? It reeks," Griffiths said.
Ted Morton, who is also vying to replace Ed Stelmach as leader of the Tories and Alberta's premier, said the sale defeats the purpose of trying to establish an overarching land blueprint for the South Saskatchewan region.
"That caught me by surprise and I'm not happy about it," Morton said during a separate meeting with the Herald's editorial board.
"It's ridiculous." Last year, a deal for the Tory government to sell the 65 square kilometres of Crown land north of Bow Island directly to SLM Spud Farms to grow potatoes created a major controversy, and the company eventually withdrew its proposal.
Ranchers whose cattle now graze on the grasslands, alongside environmental and conservation groups, had long expressed concerns about the sale.
But just last week, Knight revived the bidding process, saying the Cypress County land sale will provide an opportunity for agricultural development and potential jobs - as well as generating significant funds to be used for conservation of other lands. Proposals for buying the land must be submitted by Oct. 31.
At the same time, the Alberta government is allowing the public to comment on Regional Advisory Council recommendations for managing growth and preserving the environment in the South Saskatchewan region - an area which stretches from just north of Calgary to the U.S. border - until December.
Two-thirds of the region's native grasslands have already been developed or converted in some way, and the council has recommended that "on public native rangelands, the conversion to arable agriculture or other permanent uses will not be considered."
On Tuesday, Morton said the economic benefit to the region has to be taken into account but he wants the "process to run its course."
Knight wasn't available for comment on Tuesday, but department spokeswoman Kathy Kiel said the successful buyer will have to create sustainable jobs and develop the value-added sector.
"This is some of Alberta's best arable land," Kiel said.
She noted the minister has long said he won't halt business while the land plan is developed.
But leadership candidates Gary Mar and Alison Redford also expressed dissatisfaction with the bidding announcement.
"I'm of the view that it's more important to get things right than get them right away," Mar said in an interview.
Redford said this sale and other major land decisions should be put on ice until the next leader and premier is decided, no later than Oct. 1.
"I really am disappointed that these one-off deals are being pushed through," she said.
"Albertans know there's a number of issues that we need to resolve in a way that gives us a path to move forward with land use."
contact: kcryderman@calgaryherald.com
