The County of Stettler Ag Service Board (ASB) heard that the provincial government is considering changes to make the oil and gas industry more accountable for uncontrolled weeds. The report was heard at the June 19 regular ASB meeting.

Readers should note the ASB is comprised of members of county council and chaired by Coun. Les Stulberg.

Stulberg gave an update on an online June 4 meeting he attended with Assistant Deputy Minister of Agriculture John Conrad, with Stulberg noting Conrad tends to be forthcoming. “He’s pretty candid in what he shares,” said Stulberg. Stulberg stated one item Conrad discussed was uncontrolled noxious weeds on oil and gas sites. It was noted the Alberta government is pondering a change to the Municipal Government Act (MGA) to allow municipalities to bill oil and gas site owners for weed control. Stulberg stated changing the MGA is a slow process.

Coun. Justin Stevens asked if that new process would include adding unpaid spraying bills to an unpaid property tax bill. Coun. James Nibourg observed that if any such sites were part of the orphan well asso-

ciation, perhaps the weed spraying bill could be sent to the Alberta government.

Reeve Larry Clarke noted noxious weeds on oil and gas sites is an issue being talked about in Edmonton, along with unpaid property taxes in the oil and gas industry. During discussion councillors noted that even though producers are legally prohibited from entering an oil and gas site even to spray weeds, some producers do it anyway.

Wild boars

Stulberg updated on the ongoing wild boar issue in Alberta, noting to date 539 such animals have been

destroyed. It was noted that’s not an annual tally, but a full tally of the entire program’s history. Coun. Ernie Gendre observed that if boars can have two to three litters per year, 539 is not a very large number.

It was also noted there are 14 wild boar farms in Alberta with the province government pondering a ban on such operations. Stulberg noted other North American areas suffer tremendous damage from wild boars and Alberta doesn’t want to see its problem get any worse.

Staff noted a tour is upcoming in the Whitecourt area to examine trapping sites.

Vet shortage

Stulberg reported that Conrad discussed that a shortage of veterinarians is a global problem. The province is spending $3.9 million at the U of C with the program doubling in students soon to 100. He also noted Alberta has no vet lab services. A pilot project has also begun to make careers in vet medicine more attractive.

Wind, solar on farmland

Conrad also discussed the issue of renewable developments such as wind and solar being built on productive farmland. He stated such projects can’t be built on class 1 or 2 soil unless an 80 per cent productivity can be maintained; for municipalities without such soil, 80 per cent must be maintained on class 3 soil. It was also noted however that the soil classification system hasn’t been updated since 1995.