Municipalities, including Mountain View County, will consider a resolution at the upcoming Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) spring convention regarding the Bighorn Country proposal.
Released on Thursday for member consideration, the resolution calls on the province to “delay the Bighorn Country proposal until an inclusive and comprehensive consultation process that includes and respects First Nations, municipalities, stakeholder groups and residents of Alberta can be developed.”
The RMA represents 69 rural municipalities and advocates on behalf of its members with the provincial government.
The Bighorn Country proposal involves a vast wilderness area along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, running from west of Sundre to west of Drayton Valley.
The proposal would create new public land use zones and four new provincial parks, including the Ya Ha Tinda Provincial Park west of Sundre.
The consultation regarding the proposal started last fall and has to date included an online survey, several open houses, including in Sundre, and meetings with some stakeholder organizations.
The resolution coming before RMA members also states that the Bighorn Country proposal “has the potential to impact the oil and gas, agriculture and forestry industries, which are drivers of the Alberta economy and a source of revenue for the provision of government programs and services.
“The government of Alberta’s current consultation format does not foster open and effective dialogue between key stakeholders and provincial officials.”
RMA president Al Kemmere, who is also a Mountain View County councillor, told the Gazette the resolution could be updated in response to any developments on the Bighorn Country file that may occur before the March 18-20 convention in Edmonton.
