Lawyer Keith Wilson spoke at the Athabasca Multiplex last Tuesday about what he calls “the fiasco” of property rights bills introduced by Ed Stelmach’s PC government in recent years.
He spoke at the invitation of the Landowners Against Bills Society of Alberta and discussed Bills 19, 24, 36 and 50.
More than 130 people attended the three-hour session, which included Wilson’s presentation followed by open discussion. Some people came all the way from Lac La Biche and Boyle to hear the talk.
“I was pleased that as many people came out and the audience was certainly very attentive,” Wilson said. “They seemed to understand the gravity of the legislation in terms of its impact on all of us.”
Local MLA Jeff Johnson was unable to attend the event, but said that he would be more than happy to discuss the issues residents have surrounding these bills.
“With respect to listening to my constituents, I have responded diligently to requests for meetings from my constituents and to calls on these topics,” Johnson said in an email. “Over the last two years since these bills were passed I have traveled extensively through the constituency with the appropriate ministers and officials, to meet with municipal leaders and concerned constituents.”
Wilson has been confronted about the information he presented, but invited people with doubts to point out inaccuracies.
“I can defend my slides fully both by referring to the actual legal wording of the legislation, and a number of my slides, which include the words of other people, other experts, and other institutions,” Wilson explained.
He offered Bill 50 as an example, stating it is major industry groups that say this is a massive overbuild and will hurt our economy.
In response, Johnson pointed out that only one lawyer in Alberta has taken a stand against these bills.
“The feedback and direction we got is what has resulted in amendments to Bill 50 and Bill 36 (Bill 10). Many organizations in Alberta, including the legal community now say we have the strongest property rights in the country - which is the way it should be,” Johnson said. “After the recent amendments we passed to clarify these bills it has become apparent that the legal community in Alberta does not share Mr. Wilson’s perspective and neither do I, but I respect his democratic right to be mistaken.”
Wilson pointed out it was independent think-tanks that did analyses on the bills.
“Bill 50 is fundamentally flawed legislation and will harm Alberta economically,” Wilson said. “I know the government, particularly local MLA Jeff Johnson, does not want to deal with the reality of the legislation he voted for.”
Wilson said that he has tried to contact Johnson and has not received a phone call or email in reply.
“He refuses to discuss things with me because I think he’s afraid of the truth,” Wilson said. “The issue is not what your MLA thinks about this, it’s what you think about it.”
Johnson said property rights are a very serious matter and the caucus is treating it as such.
“We will in no way allow property rights to be eroded. If there are legislative changes that are required - rest assured we would make them,” Johnson stated. “In my opinion what we are seeing here is partisan politics at its finest. Using fear mongering tactics for political points, and it belittles the serious nature of this topic.”
He added that pulling out small clauses of a large bill can be misleading.
Mel Knight, MLA for Grande Prairie-Smoky and Minister Of Sustainable Resource Development, said these bills have in no way been changed to rob landowners of their rights.
“Most certainly I am not going to argue the legal aspects with Mr. Wilson,” Knight said. “What I’m interested in is the constituents that hold dispositions, whether they are leases or land titles, and all of the state holders that have developed an interest in developing Alberta. Those are the people I am interested in.”
Johnson agrees with Knight when he said these bills are large and very intricate.
“Leaving out sections as you present them may be very impactful, but is also very irresponsible and misleading,” Johnson said.
Wilson, however, held firm in his belief that these bills give the government too much power over land use, unnecessarily growing the role of government in our lives.
He also admitted he does not normally jump on board with conspiracy theories, but this one will affect his rights as an Albertan and affect his children so he had to get involved.
His presentation in Athabasca was his 35th in the province.
