Alberta Record

· Order in Council / Recreational Access Regulation Amendment · in-force

Recreational access amendment regulation 2025 60

This Order in Council amends the Recreational Access Regulation (AR 228/2003) to redefine terms, add a purpose statement, grant new authority to agricultural disposition holders and local settlement officers/directors regarding recreationa…

High impactCentralization of powerLocal autonomyThe public, directlyLegislatureIndependent watchdogs

What changed

  • The definition of "bicycle" is expanded to include power bicycles, and "firearm" is newly defined to include various devices discharging harmful missiles, explicitly including target shooting.
  • A new purpose statement is added, emphasizing governing access to agricultural disposition land to benefit Albertans and recognize the land's economic, social, and environmental importance.
  • Agricultural disposition holders are granted new authority to provide "reasonable guidance" to recreational users to prevent harm to persons, animals, vegetation, or land, and to avoid livestock.
  • The Minister's role in recreational management plans is altered; agreement is no longer required for plan changes, but consultation with disposition holders is mandated for amendments or cancellations.
  • Local settlement officers or directors gain new authority to amend or remove terms/conditions on agricultural dispositions and to impose conditions on recreational access, including restricting numbers or allocating access.
  • Directors are empowered to require agricultural disposition holders to restrict access to land if necessary to prevent harm from disease, infectious agents, or toxins to health and safety.
  • The expiry date of the Recreational Access Regulation (AR 228/2003) is extended from March 31, 2025, to March 31, 2035.

Why it matters

  • The introduction of a purpose statement and new definitions clarifies the scope of regulated recreational activities and the intent behind land access governance.
  • Granting "reasonable guidance" authority to agricultural disposition holders decentralizes some aspects of land management, potentially increasing their influence over recreational users.
  • The shift in the Minister's role regarding recreational management plans centralizes decision-making by removing the need for agreement on plan changes, while still requiring consultation for amendments or cancellations.
  • New powers for local settlement officers and directors to impose access conditions introduce additional layers of control over public recreational use of agricultural disposition land.
  • The extension of the regulation's expiry date by a decade ensures the continuity of this regulatory framework and the new authorities granted within it for an extended period.

Other governance concerns

  • Increased discretion for agricultural disposition holders over recreational access.
  • Expanded authority for local settlement officers and directors to restrict public access to land.
  • Potential for varied application of access rules across different agricultural dispositions.
  • Changes to the Minister's oversight role in recreational management plans.
  • Long-term implications of the extended regulatory framework on public land access.

Primary sources (1)

Secondary sources (2)