Bill 216 (Legislature 26, Session 3)

L26 S3 623

Alberta — Bills

2007 Bill 216 Third Session, 26th Legislature, 56 Elizabeth II THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL 216 WATER PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2007 DR. SWANN First Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Second Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Committee of the Whole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Third Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Royal Assent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bill 216 Dr. Swann BILL 216 2007 WATER PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2007 (Assented to , 2007)

WHEREAS an abundant supply of water is essential to sustain all ecological processes, life-support systems and food production and is integral to the environmental, economic and social well-being of Alberta now and in the future;

WHEREAS access to high-quality and affordable water is a fundamental right of the citizens of Alberta; and

WHEREAS a legislative commitment to watershed planning is an effective means to address risks to water resources and aquatic ecosystems; THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows: Municipal Government Act Amends RSA 2000 cM-26 1(1) The Municipal Government Act is amended by this section.

(2) Section 632(3) is amended in clause (

a) by striking out “and” at the end of subclause (iv), by adding “and” at the end of subclause (

v) and by adding the following after subclause (v): (vi) the terms and conditions of a watershed management plan required under the Water Act; 1

Explanatory Notes Municipal Government Act 1(1) Amends

chapter M-26 of the Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000.

(2) Section 632 presently reads in part:

(3) A municipal development plan (

a) must address (

i) the future land use within the municipality, Explanatory Notes 1

Water Act Amends RSA 2000 cW-3 2(1) The Water Act is amended by this section.

(2) Section 1(1) is amended (

a) by adding the following after clause (c): (c.1) “Alberta Water Council” means the multi-stakeholder council created by the Minister pursuant to Ministerial Order 10/2004; (

b) by repealing clause (ff) and substituting the following: (ff) “major river basin” means (

i) the Peace/Slave River Basin, (ii) the Athabasca River Basin, (iii) the North Saskatchewan River Basin, (iv) the Red Deer River Basin, (

v) the Bow River Basin, (vi) the Oldman River Basin, (vii) the South Saskat chewan River Basin, (viii) the Milk River Basin, (ix) the Beaver River Basin, and 2

(ii) the manner of and the proposals for future development in the municipality, (iii) the co-ordination of land use, future growth patterns and other infrastructure with adjacent municipalities if there is no intermunicipal development plan with respect to those matters in those municipalities, (iv) the provision of the requi red transportation systems either generally or specifically within the municipality and in relation to adjacent municipalities, and (

v) the provision of municipal services and facilities either generally or specifically, Water Act 2(1) Amends

chapter W-3 of the Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000.

(2) Adds definition of Alberta Water Council and replaces definition of “major river basin.” Explanatory Notes 2

(

x) the Hay River Basin, with boundaries as defined in the regulations ;

(3) The following is added after

section 9: Watershed management plan 9.1(1) The Minister must establish a watershed management plan that (

a) designates and defines the boundaries of the watershed for each of Alberta’s 10 major river basins; (

b) contains objectives, policies and recommendations respecting (

i) the protection, conservation or restoration of water, aquatic ecosystems and drinking water sources, (ii) the prevention, cont rol and abatement of water pollution, (iii) land drainage and flood control, (iv) activities in riparian areas, flood areas, flood plains and reservoir areas, (

v) water demand management, water use practices and priorities, the conservation of water supplies, and the reduction of water use and consumption during droughts and other periods of water shortage, (vi) the supply, distribution, storage and retention of water, (vii) emergency preparedness to address spills, accidents and other emergencies that may affect water, an aquatic ecosystem or a drinking water source; (

c) specifies linkages between water management and land use planning so as to facilitate the adoption in a development plan or other planning instrument of some or all of the provisions of the watershed management plan; (

d) considers the m easurement of the provincial water supply determined pursuant to

section 9.2; (

e) reflects water quality standards, objectives and guidelines that apply to each watershed; 3

(3) Introduces requirement for a watershed management plan and provincial water inventory. Explanatory Notes 3

4 (

f) identifies ways in which the plan can be implemented, monitored and evaluated.

(2) The Minister may require the watershed management plan to be developed by the Director in consultation with the public and the Alberta Water Council. Provincial water inventory 9.2 The Minister must order a measurement of the provincial water supply and commence ongoing monitoring of water use that details user and ecosystem demand and the cumulative effects at the watershed level.

(4) Section 48 is repealed and the following is substituted: Public review, Alberta Water Council approval 48(1) Before a Bill to amend

section 46 or 47 is introduced in the Assembly, the Minister must conduct province-wide public consultation.

(2) Before a special Act described in

section 46 or 47 is introduced in the Assembly, (

a) the Minister must conduct province-wide public consultation, and (

b) the proposed licence author ized by the special Act must be approved by the Alberta Water Council.

(5) Section 99(1)(

a) is amended by striking out subclause (xv) and substituting the following: (xv) with respect to a problem water well (

A) to reclaim the well, (

B) to restore, seal or cap the well in a manner satisfactory to the Director, or (

C) to take any other remedial action with respect to the well to prevent, minimize or remedy any adverse effects on the environment, human health, property or public safety; 3 This Act comes into force on Proclamation.

Explanatory Notes 4

(4) Section 48 presently reads: 48 Before a Bill to amend

section 46 or 47 or to enact a special Act described in those sections is introduced into the Legislative Assembly, the Minister must consult with the public, in a form and manner satisfactory to the Minister, with respect to such a Bill.

(5) Section 99 presently reads in part: 99(1) A water management order issued by the Director may (

a) order the person to whom it is directed to take any measures that the Director considers necessary, including but not limited to any or all of the following: (xv) with respect to a problem water well, to reclaim the water well or take any remedial action with respect to the water well and to prevent, minimize or remedy any adverse effects on the environment, human health, property or public safety; 3 Coming into force.

Record of Debate STAGE DATE MEMBER FROM TO TOTAL CUMULATIVE TOTAL Title: 2007 (26th, 3rd) Bill 216, Water Protection and Conservation Statutes Amendment Act, 2007

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Bills
Citation	L26 S3 623
Type	bill
Volume / chapter	L26 S3 623
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	b62b51c6e9ea8fa745b9b8b6b12f98b007cf51a9

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