Alberta Tackles Surface Rights Shortcomings Amid Landowner Concerns

The Alberta government has announced plans to address shortcomings in its surface rights system, which governs the use of land for oil and gas development. The move follows years of controversy over delinquent oil and gas companies that have left thousands of landowners unpaid.

A new advisory panel will be established to recommend improvements to the Surface Rights Act, which has not been updated since 1983. The panel will include representatives from landowner groups, industry, and municipalities.

Mark Dorin, a landowner and director of the Alberta Surface Rights Federation, welcomes the move but is cautious about its potential impact. He notes that any updates to the law must strengthen pathways to compensation for landowners and clarify the responsibilities of regulators.