Alberta’s government has launched a review of the Land and Property Rights Tribunal (LPRT) to ensure it remains effective and responsive to the needs of Albertans.
The review aims to strengthen property rights and improve the tribunal’s operations through engagement with landowners, developers, industry groups, and municipalities.
The LPRT plays a critical role in protecting Albertans’ property rights by providing a fair and impartial appeal process for property assessments, surface rights, compensation, land use planning, and other land-related issues.
To enhance these services, the government has hired Alberta-based consulting firm MNP to assess the tribunal’s business processes.
“Albertans’ property rights are a top priority for our government. That's why we have brought in an external consultant to review the business processes of the LPRT. This review will help ensure that the LPRT is effective, responsive, and accessible when Albertans need them the most,” said Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs.
As part of the review, MNP is consulting with municipalities, developers, industry groups, assessors, and landowners to evaluate the tribunal’s effectiveness in meeting its mandate, goals, and outcomes.
The review will also examine the accessibility of LPRT services and its ability to handle cases in a timely manner.
Spencer Hilton, chair of the Wheatland and Area Surface Rights Society, welcomed the review, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among landowners, energy companies, and the government.
“A cooperative and functional relationship between landowners, energy companies, and the Alberta government is critical to the success of both our agricultural and energy industries. The Wheatland and Area Surface Rights Society is looking forward to directly participating in the Business Review Process of the LPRT,” Hilton said.
The review process includes gathering feedback through focus groups, interviews, and written submissions. Albertans and interested parties are encouraged to share their input through a public online survey, which will remain open until March 30.
The LPRT was formed in 2018 through the amalgamation of the Municipal Government Board, the New Home Buyer Protection Board, the Land Compensation Board, and the Surface Rights Board.
This is the first comprehensive review of the tribunal since its creation. The government regularly reviews public boards, agencies, and commissions to ensure they align with current priorities, eliminate inefficiencies, and improve overall effectiveness.