City Notebook: Sore sight for some, sorely needed revenue for others

By COLLIN GALLANT on May 14, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

This week the News reported a sixth major solar farm was proposed for the Trans-Canada Highway corridor between here to Strathmore.

A re-check finds the number visible from the No. 1 is actually seven, and that’s six more than existed three years ago.

As they proliferate however, taking up whole quarter-sections, the argument grows that the effect on arable land mass in the province is being swallowed up.

Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Frey brought up the issue in the legislature on May 4 during question period and prior to debate on her government’s new electricity system amendments.

“The amount of tillable land that appears to be going to waste is a growing issue,” she told Electricity and Natural Gas Associate Minister Dale Nally.

He reiterated protections are in place but also the government’s mantra that it’s completely hands off when private deals are struck between power developers and private land owners.

“Owners” is probably the operative word here, as projects can only be located on privately owned land, but that might be the hitch to the seemingly easy solution of mandating that solar fields locate on only the least productive land.

But, and this is a big “but,” the no-brainer solution gets pretty sticky when you realize that comprises a lot of lease land, which should ensure we only hear crickets on the idea.

In many cases, leases for provincially owned grazing land will have to be pried out of the cold dead hands of ranchers who hold rights, consider the agreements part of their holdings, depend on oil and gas surface rights agreements for income and who formed a whole political party 10 years ago to protect their position.

A cursory look at consultation on the Wild Rose Wind farm (approved 15 years ago and now going ahead, as of this week) shows as many ranchers worried about losing turbine locations (and potential rent) on their own land as neighbours were worried about the view or property values around Seven Persons.

As far as grazing goes, how could the province continue to lease grazing land when there’s no grazing? Who’d get the revenue?

More importantly, who would be brave enough to open this can of worms?

For the record, there are more than 50 million acres of cropland or pasture in Alberta.

Scuttlebutt

– A little bird says local monarchists are looking for a way to formally recognize the upcoming observance of the platinum jubilee of Elizabeth II on June 2.

– Municipalities in the region are gathering support for a new rest stop on Highway 3 on the portion between Taber and Medicine Hat, while the province moves to twin the section between Taber and Burdett over the next few years.

– Parade goers in the region take note, we’re about a month away from Redcliff Days kickoff on June 18, which will feature a parade through town (such an event only happened one year out of five). The Bow Island Days parade is July 16, and in a Canada Day vein, the two-year delay to celebrate the Vauxhall Centennial will feature a parade on July 1.

Springtime in the southeast

An informal poll on what is the real signal of spring in Medicine Hat:

A) Mayday trees bloom downtown (last week);

B) Echo Dale lake opens (usually mid-June);

C) Grads poking heads out of limo sunroofs (this weekend);

D) The air-conditioner kicks in (any minute now).

Coming up

The Women in Business Inspire Award luncheon will be held on Friday, June 3 at the Medicine Hat Lodge, the group has announced. (Full disclosure, a panel discussion involves two outstanding professionals who first honed their crafts at the News).

South Country Co-op marketing director Carmen Hudson and graphic designer turned design shop owner Natalie Long will join school teacher and volunteer firefighter Justine Wilton.

Pre-registration is required for the event, which runs 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes lunch at a cost of $45. Find more info at the website http://www.wibmedicinehat.com.

A look ahead

Council will resume the skateboard bylaw debate on Monday evening, having given two weeks for staffers to query the downtown business community on the issue. (The MH Skateboard Association also did a litter blitz early this week). That comes as the Chamber of Commerce is also stepping in to engage downtown business owners after the City Centre Development Agency dissolved last year.

The chamber will also give a gettin’-to-know-you presentation to council, and the 2021 tourism report is due.

Collin Gallant covers city politics and a variety of topics for the News. Reach him at 403-528-5664 or via email at cgallant@medicinehatnews.com