Surface rights
In southern Alberta, the Ministry of Alberta Environment (AEP) has arbitrarily cancelled a number of water licences that have been in effect for generations. The sudden cancellation jeopardizes the agricultural operations that relied on those water licenses.
On the pretext that a rancher’s nearly two-decade-old licence was not complete, the AEP revoked his water license. The Environmental Appeals Board has refused to hear the rancher’s case on the premise it would be too time consuming.
West of Rimbey, AltaLink trespassed onto a rancher’s property and cut down approximately 3.1 acres of sheltered trees. AltaLink has never compensated the rancher, because the Surface Rights Board ruled that the rancher still had ample trees on his property to shelter his cattle. The Surface Rights Board further ruled, the loss of trees is offset by the increase in a newly created grazing area. Thus the rancher is not entitled to damages.
It is unconscionable for the Surface Rights Board to think it can decide how a small business should distribute its assets.
Since the PC government derailed property rights years ago, the NDP government has shown itself to be equally unwilling to hear the concerns of rural property owners. The NDP is now responsible for these PC-created judicial boards. Only the United Conservative Party leader has been elected to the legislature. The UCP MLAs have only shown they are willing to do and say whatever is required to get re-elected. This self-serving attitude created this problem in the first place.
Bureaucratic abuse of rural businesses and property owners continues unabated. Notwithstanding a cost prohibiting-lawsuit, there appears to no judicial process in place to balance the rights of rural citizens against the abuses of industry and bureaucrats. The deck is stacked against family farms and rural property owners. We need change.
Joe Anglin, Rimbey
CFL OUTLOOK
It has been an amazing off season in the CFL, what I believe to be North America’s premier football association.
Firstly, we saw Toronto win the Grey Cup in grand fashion, with a superb presentation of what make the game unique. From the immediate game changing presence of Commissioner Randy Ambrosie to what has been a whirlwind of player departures and signings. It has been amazing to see players like Jerome Messam go back to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and players like ex-NFLer Manzell tease Hamilton.
The outlook on the season is great, however, this season has seen an amazing amount of what I call ‘dump the player,’. The game is simple, sign a player to a multi-year contract with bonuses due each season for staying with the team, then dump them one day before the $15,000 or $30,000 is due them. The player is then in CFL limbo until another team signs them, presumably for one year with another signing bonus due them.
As a fan of the game, it is difficult to build team loyalty and fan base if your team continually dumps good players before a negotiated amount is due them. It is downright dirty pool, and casts a dark pall on the whole league. I would feel less unhappy IF CFL head office and the CFLPA took a stand on the practice, but neither has commented on the situation that folks like Darian Durant, Kevin Glenn and others have part of.
If I were CFL commissioner, I would immediately deal with this shameful business practice.
If I were a player, I would not include any bonus with my contract, but try to negotiate a reasonable salary for my time with any team.
Tim Lasiuta, Red Deer