South Saskatchewan Regional Plan Needs Our Input

[robertboyce]

We have a fantastic opprotunity to directly address some of the long standing backcountry use and conservation issues through the provincial governments South Saskatchewan Regional Planning process. This is a Land use Plan. The government is craving input and has created a formal and what I think is an excellent process to receive it. Primarily through what's called the Phase II consultation workbook and the Phase II Consultation Sessions occuring around southern Alberta.

 

I've been lucky enough to attend a few of their stakeholder sessions along the east slopes and can say that i don't recall seeing anybody from the angling community. Not a guide, not an ENGO, not an angler. Not to say they were not there or not at another event but this user group was certainly not conspicuous. Several other ENGOs, municipalities, industry, landowners, land trusts, etc. were all present and ensuring that their messages were heard. The OHV folks were present as well. The few I spoke with were very well prepared and I suspect represent the more responsible folks.

 

All their voices have been heard. I worry that input from the the people in this community have not.

 

Please take the time to submit one of these workbooks. They can be online or hard copy. Numbers matter! The more voices sharing your values the more likely things will change. You do not need to complete the entire book….the government has stated that it will happily accept information in partially completed workbooks. Complete the portions where you have an opinion. The deadline is December 21, 2012. This information can be found here: https://www.landuse....es/default.aspx

[Taco]

Thanks Robert

[robertboyce]

For people’s convenience here is the direct link to the online version of the workbook:

 

http://www.banister.ab.ca/SSRPworkbookphase2/

[robertboyce]

For convenience here is the nearest link I could find for the printable/downloadable copy of the workbook:

 

https://www.landuse.alberta.ca/Newsroom/Pages/PublicConsultations.aspx

 

The actual link to the work book is just above the image with the haybales part way down the page. Sorry, the file was too large to attach to to a post. If a person chooses to submit a hard copy they can do so here:

 

SSRP Phase 2 Workbook

Land Use Secretariat

9th Floor, 10035 – 108 Street

Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3E2

 

The workbook may also be submitted at any local Government of Alberta office.

[robertboyce]

Here is an article from today's Calgary Herald (thanks bcube). It is about the Hidden Creek timber harvest situation. It describes why some feel logging this area is unacceptable and presents the government and industry responses.

 

At the end of the article there is a statement "he <Duncan MacDonnell, ESRD Public Affairs Officer> noted that the ongoing review of the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan, which will set out land-use policies for the area south of Calgary, could potentially lead to future changes.”

 

I feel like I have a fantastic opportunity to be heard through the regional planning process and I'm hoping to sway some more folks to feel the same way. Pls don’t let it go by without sharing your thoughts. All of us together are more intelligent than any one of us.

 

The article:

 

http://www.calgaryhe...1745/story.html

[trailhead]

I have filled out the workbook, lots of stuff in there. I then tried to drop it off at the Mcdougall Government Office. They wouldn't take it because they had no idea what it was, where it was supposed to go or how it could get there. Doesn't appear to have as much interest as getting your mother and daughter to the London Olympics.

[ÜberFly]

Remember folks, this proposal will restrict OHV use, which in my opinion is ok (others may not agree, but that is your right)!!

[robertboyce]

Hi ÜberFly. I've a different understanding of how the SSRP and its process could affect OHV use and the other items currently under discussion. I don’t believe that I am able to say that any particular user group will see changes just yet. I’ll explain my reason for saying this.

 

I’m hypothesizing that you have read either the Regional Advisory Council (RAC) Advise-to-Government document or the workbook because both contain discussions on OHV use.

 

The workbook is more or less based on the RAC advice. The government has said that the RAC advice is not government’s perspective and not the Regional Plan. It’s the RAC advice only.

 

The provincial government intends to take the RAC advice and all the information received during this Phase II consultation all together to prepare the draft Regional Plan. This feedback includes workbooks, position papers, other documents, letters, public session feedback, stakeholder session feedback, etc.

 

Many groups are taking this phase of consultation quite seriously and are maximizing their influence by organizing and attending consultation sessions and through direct submissions to government (like the workbooks).

 

If this collective feedback is significantly different from the RAC advice the content of the draft Regional Plan could look quite different compared with the material currently in circulation.

 

For this reason I believe that if we like something in the workbook we need to show it and if we dislike something we need to state that as well.

 

Once the draft Regional Plan is built another round of consultations will occur. After feedback from those consultations is considered the Plan will be finalized and sent to cabinet for approval. After that the Plan becomes law.

[robertboyce]

I then tried to drop it off at the Mcdougall Government Office. They wouldn't take it because they had no idea what it was, where it was supposed to go or how it could get there.

 

Thanks for taking the time to work on the workbook and trying to submit it. Did this location finally get it sorted out or were you able to submit it some other way?

 

So far I’ve had a better experience with the system so this is a little disappointing.

[trailhead]

Nothing yet. I will probably have to pay the ten bucks or so to mail it.

[ÜberFly]

Vic,

 

Why did you not submit it electronically?

 

P

[trailhead]

I worked on the whole a bit at a time. So printed it off and did the analog thing. I guess I'm just old school.

[pepper]

 

From Alberta Wilderness Association:

 

Tomorrow evening (Dec 11, 2012) we have a hands-on workshop that you really won’t want to miss. Brad Stelfox of ALCES and Katie Rasmussen, AWA Conservation Specialist, will give brief presentations about the South Saskatchewan Region and the planning process that is ongoing. They’ll answer questions and then with the help of all the AWA staff, we will have opportunities for you to provide your thoughts to the planning process provided by the government‘s land use framework.

 

Learn more here http://bit.ly/SS1MRd and here http://bit.ly/Vc0KSS

[robertboyce]

This is the last day to submit input to this phase of the landuse plan that covers the eastern slopes from more or less Calgary south.

 

Looks like the online workbook is still open to comments until the end of today.

[trailhead]

It took three attempts but I got it into the SRD office on Bearspaw Road. I just hope it gets to the office in Edmonton, where I also tried to drop it, but it was closed and no one had any idea what I was talking about. I have a feeling.....