Province to Review Grazing Leases
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LETHBRIDGE: The province is looking into the results of an independent report that says Alberta could bring in an extra $45-million in annual revenue, if it changes how it handles grazing leases.
As it stands, it appears cattle producers leasing Crown land are able to accept personal financial benefits by giving oil and gas companies access to the land.
Lethbridge West MLA Shannon Phillips noted that they are conducting a review, to make sure Albertans see the greatest benefit, “What we want to ensure here is that the Crown gets it’s fair share, the people of Alberta own the oil and gas resources underneath the ground, that is a fact, and so the people of Alberta must get their fair share and ensure that development is being done in the most responsible manner possible.”
Having said that, Phillips pointed out that grazing lease holders are some of the most responsible stewards of the land, “Our rangeland health, in many ways, relies upon grazing lease holders who uphold very high ecological standards in many cases, and having oil and gas activity on their land, is quite frankly an inconvenience for many, and so we recognize that as a province.”
