MLA Dave Hanson for Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul told the Alberta Legislature "Nice try Justin," concerning a potential Liberal land grab in his riding.."Well, Mr. Trudeau and the federal government are at it again, they make an agreement with the province and then find another angle to try and interfere with provincial jurisdiction," Hanson said..The Metis Settlements General Council (MSGC) in conjunction with the Liberal federal government, is seeking to create two indigenous protected and conserved areas (IPCA) in the Athabasca and Cold Lake regions..According to a draft of a letter from Toma Consulting, a Canadian firm focused on specialized management consulting, the MSGC is looking to protect these areas and will help maintain their many ecological, cultural, and social values while supporting indigenous leadership in conservation..READ MORE: Major changes to public lands in Northern Alberta being discussed by Trudeau Liberals."Our government just completed extensive committee meetings with all stakeholders in the Cold Lake caribou south region," Hanson said.."Which includes the area in question and recommendations from that work, which includes extensive habitat restoration and protection resulted in the Cold Lake Sub-regional Plan which was accepted by the federal government, who then signed the second level of the agreement under the species at risk agreeing that jurisdiction remains in the hands of the provincial government.".An important part of the Alberta government’s approach to managing public lands such as those in Cold Lake, is the involvement of local Albertans, talking to those who live, work, and recreate on the landscape, he said.."This was key to informing the Cold Lake Sub-Regional Plan," the Alberta government stated..Some locals told the Western Standard when the survey was circulated it was the first they heard about this potential IPCA..As part of its 2019 commitment to achieving and maintaining naturally self-sustaining woodland caribou populations, the Alberta government established the Northeast Caribou Sub-regional Task Force.."It initiated a sub-regional approach to caribou recovery because it ensures we consider and balance a broad range of interests and activities," the Alberta government stated in the sub regional plan..The task force then provided recommendations to inform the development of the sub-regional plan.."It included people and organizations familiar with the Cold Lake Sub-region, including local municipalities, indigenous peoples and organizations, the energy and forestry sectors, trappers, recreational users, environmental non-government organizations, and other local stakeholders and knowledge holders," the Alberta government said..According to Alberta's government the task force recommendations were important for developing management approaches that support naturally functioning ecosystems that will benefit a wide range of species..In line with the task force recommendations and commitments under the Alberta-Canada Section 11 Conservation Agreement or Boreal Caribou under the Species at Risk Act, the plan includes a focus on conserving and recovery.."Now, the Trudeau liberals are using the Metis Settlements General Council (MSGC) in an effort to further interfere with provincial jurisdiction by providing them funding," Hanson said on Tuesday.."This proposed IPCA and total lack of information provided by the higher consultant group is causing a lot of concern for many people in the region and indeed all over the province.".Hanson said he believes if "Mr. Trudeau was really concerned about helping our Metis settlements, maybe providing funding for much-needed infrastructure, fresh drinking water, and households and housing would be better.".Hanson recently held a town hall meeting in La Corey in the MD of Bonnyville where over 550 people attended to voice their concerns.."There are two proposals being looked at that have northern Albertans very concerned; one, in the Wolf Lake area covers over 11 townships of land within the MD of Bonnyville and Lakeland provincial park; that’s over a thousand square kilometres," Hanson said.."The main problem with the feasibility study is that it provides zero detail as to what restrictions the IPCA could put in place; will it restrict access for hunting and recreation? Could it restrict access for some groups for traditional use? Or is it just intended to interfere with oil and gas and forestry? That’s the problem no one can provide that information.".Hanson told the Western Standard he plans to hold a series of town hall meetings in the Lakeland in the near future.."Canada's provincial crown lands and parks must remain under the jurisdiction of the province they are located in," Hanson said.."Alberta’s crown lands and provincial parks are public lands and will remain so, nice try Justin."
MLA Dave Hanson for Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul told the Alberta Legislature "Nice try Justin," concerning a potential Liberal land grab in his riding.."Well, Mr. Trudeau and the federal government are at it again, they make an agreement with the province and then find another angle to try and interfere with provincial jurisdiction," Hanson said..The Metis Settlements General Council (MSGC) in conjunction with the Liberal federal government, is seeking to create two indigenous protected and conserved areas (IPCA) in the Athabasca and Cold Lake regions..According to a draft of a letter from Toma Consulting, a Canadian firm focused on specialized management consulting, the MSGC is looking to protect these areas and will help maintain their many ecological, cultural, and social values while supporting indigenous leadership in conservation..READ MORE: Major changes to public lands in Northern Alberta being discussed by Trudeau Liberals."Our government just completed extensive committee meetings with all stakeholders in the Cold Lake caribou south region," Hanson said.."Which includes the area in question and recommendations from that work, which includes extensive habitat restoration and protection resulted in the Cold Lake Sub-regional Plan which was accepted by the federal government, who then signed the second level of the agreement under the species at risk agreeing that jurisdiction remains in the hands of the provincial government.".An important part of the Alberta government’s approach to managing public lands such as those in Cold Lake, is the involvement of local Albertans, talking to those who live, work, and recreate on the landscape, he said.."This was key to informing the Cold Lake Sub-Regional Plan," the Alberta government stated..Some locals told the Western Standard when the survey was circulated it was the first they heard about this potential IPCA..As part of its 2019 commitment to achieving and maintaining naturally self-sustaining woodland caribou populations, the Alberta government established the Northeast Caribou Sub-regional Task Force.."It initiated a sub-regional approach to caribou recovery because it ensures we consider and balance a broad range of interests and activities," the Alberta government stated in the sub regional plan..The task force then provided recommendations to inform the development of the sub-regional plan.."It included people and organizations familiar with the Cold Lake Sub-region, including local municipalities, indigenous peoples and organizations, the energy and forestry sectors, trappers, recreational users, environmental non-government organizations, and other local stakeholders and knowledge holders," the Alberta government said..According to Alberta's government the task force recommendations were important for developing management approaches that support naturally functioning ecosystems that will benefit a wide range of species..In line with the task force recommendations and commitments under the Alberta-Canada Section 11 Conservation Agreement or Boreal Caribou under the Species at Risk Act, the plan includes a focus on conserving and recovery.."Now, the Trudeau liberals are using the Metis Settlements General Council (MSGC) in an effort to further interfere with provincial jurisdiction by providing them funding," Hanson said on Tuesday.."This proposed IPCA and total lack of information provided by the higher consultant group is causing a lot of concern for many people in the region and indeed all over the province.".Hanson said he believes if "Mr. Trudeau was really concerned about helping our Metis settlements, maybe providing funding for much-needed infrastructure, fresh drinking water, and households and housing would be better.".Hanson recently held a town hall meeting in La Corey in the MD of Bonnyville where over 550 people attended to voice their concerns.."There are two proposals being looked at that have northern Albertans very concerned; one, in the Wolf Lake area covers over 11 townships of land within the MD of Bonnyville and Lakeland provincial park; that’s over a thousand square kilometres," Hanson said.."The main problem with the feasibility study is that it provides zero detail as to what restrictions the IPCA could put in place; will it restrict access for hunting and recreation? Could it restrict access for some groups for traditional use? Or is it just intended to interfere with oil and gas and forestry? That’s the problem no one can provide that information.".Hanson told the Western Standard he plans to hold a series of town hall meetings in the Lakeland in the near future.."Canada's provincial crown lands and parks must remain under the jurisdiction of the province they are located in," Hanson said.."Alberta’s crown lands and provincial parks are public lands and will remain so, nice try Justin."
