Alberta’s Proposed Land-use Framework

This important new provincial policy will profoundly effect how land and water
are used in the future.
Alberta is at a turning point On May 21, 2008 the Government of Alberta
released the Draft Land-use Framework (LUF). The Draft LUF proposes a new system to “manage growth, not stop it and to sustain our growing economy, but balance this with Albertans’ social and environmental goals.” 1 The Draft LUF documents are available at http://www.landuse.alberta.ca/.
Related reports and commentary are available at http://www.AlbertaByDesign.ca
Land use in Alberta affects the environment, our social fabric, and the economy.
“Today’s rapid growth in population and economic activity is placing unprecedented pressure on Alberta landscapes. Oil and gas, forestry and mining, agriculture and recreation, housing and infrastructure are all in competition to use the land…we have reached a tipping point where sticking with the old rules will not produce the quality of life we have come to expect.”
– Draft Land-use Framework, Government of Alberta 2008, p. 1.
Time for change: ‘Business as usual’ no longer an option There is now a broad consensus among Albertans that the current system of land-use is broken. A
survey of over 3,000 concerned Albertans indicated their top three concerns were:

1. The failure to consider the combined (or cumulative) effects of land-use activities;
2. Loss of biodiversity and wildlife habitat;
3. Failure to consider the impacts on water supply during land-use planning.

In this same survey, 95 percent of respondents said the Government of Alberta must establish new approaches to land use; 80 percent said they would be willing to set limits for growth and resource development.
Your input will shape Alberta’s future
Learn more at www.AlbertaByDesign.ca
About the Draft LUF
The Draft LUF proposes principles and a process for making land-use decisions in the future. It recognizes that there are ecological and social limits that should guide our development. It proposes the development of six regional land-use plans based on six new land-use regions. A Cabinet Committee, supported by a Land-Use Secretariat, will be responsible for the development of the regional plans with input from other government departments and appointed Regional Advisory Councils. The regional plans will set land-use objectives to manage the impacts of development on land, water and air. Local officials will retain decision-making authority over local land-use management; however, their decisions have to be consistent with the regional land-use plan and the
overall objectives of the framework
Learn more at www.AlbertaByDesign.ca