1970 Bill 62 Thim Session, 16th Legislature, 19 Elizabeth II -THE LEGISLATIVE ASSE'MBLY OF ALBE'RTA BILL 62

An Act to establish Wilderness Areas MR. WERRY First Reading ............................. . Second Reading ............................ . Third Reading ............................. . Printed by L. S. Wall, Queen's Printer, Edmonton

BILL 62 1970

An Act to establish Wilderness Areas (Assented to , 1970) HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Alberta, enacts as follows: 1 .• This Act may be cited as The Wilderness Act. 2.

In this Act, (a) "Minister" means the Minister of Lands and Forests; (b) "public lands" means the lands belonging to Her Majesty in right of Alberta, whether or not covered with water; (c) "wilderness area" means a tract of undeveloped land set aside for the presentation of a natural en­ vironment, retaining its primeval character and in­ fluence, without permanent improvements or hu­ man habitation, the minimum size to be not less than one hundred thousand acres.

A wilderness area, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is further defined as an area where the earth and its com~ munity of life are untrammeled by man; where man himself is a visitor for the purpose of (

i) solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation; (ii) scientific, educational, cultural, historical or enjoyment by people in such a manner as to leave the area unimpaired for future genera­ tions; (iii) hunting and fishing, subject to The Game Act and such regulations and seasons as may be prescribed by the Fish and Wildlife Division. Mechanized transportation shall be prohibited except for the purpose of fire protection. 3. The Lieutenant Governor in Council may set apart existing Wilderness Parks and any public lands as a wilder­ ness area.

Interpretation. 3. Establishment of wilderness areas.

4. Land may be acquired under The Public Works De­ partment Act for the purpose of this Act, subject to the appropriation of money by the Legislature for this purpose. 5. Wilderness areas are under the control and manage­ ment of the Minister. 6. Notwithstanding The Game Act and the regulations thereunder, the Minister may take such measures as he deems proper for the protection of fish, animals and birds in wilderness areas.

Section 12 and

section 32 of The Public Lands Act, 1966 does not apply under the provisions of this Act. 8.

(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (

a) for the care, preservation, improvement, control and management of wilderness areas; (

b) for prohibiting or regulating and controlling the use of lands in wilderness areas; (

c) for prohibiting or regulating and controlling the admission of persons or domestic animals to wild­ erness areas and for issuing permits to persons to enter and travel in wilderness areas, and prescrib­ ing the terms and conditions thereof: (

d) respecting any matter necessary or advisable to carry out effectively the intent and purpose of this Act.

(2) No fee may be charged under this subsection for the issue of a permit. 9. Every person who contravenes any regulation made under this Act or any term or condition of a permit issued under the regulations is guilty of an offence and on sum­ mary conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $500.00.

4. Acquisition of land. 5. Administration. 6. Protection of wild life. 7. Exception. 8. Regulations. 2 Title: 1970 (16th, 3rd) Bill 62,

An Act to establish Wilderness Areas