URGE AEPA TO RESCEHDULE IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE
Dear Irrigators,
Please read the latest update on the Water Availability Engagement below as the southern Alberta in-person open house, previously scheduled for Lethbridge on November 28 has been cancelled.
At this time, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas has not confirmed whether this in-person meeting will be rescheduled.
In the meantime, we encourage all Irrigators, vendors, Stakeholders, and partners, to sign up for the Southern Alberta Virtual Open House, happening Tuesday, November 26, at 6:30 p.m.
SIGN UP FOR THE VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE HERE
It is important that the AEPA engage, in person, with Irrigators and stakeholders on this issue, and we are encouraging irrigators to contact the EPA engagement mailbox at epa.water@gov.ab.ca to request AEPA reschedule the southern Alberta in-person open house to an alternate location prior to December 13.
We also suggest that irrigators contact their local MLA (by phone or email) to advise them of the need to reschedule this open house to an alternate southern Alberta location as soon as possible.
Background:
The St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID), as a member of the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association (AIDA), was notified recently by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas that they have opened a review and engagement of the Water Act. Outcomes of this consultation may include amendments to the Water Act as well as changes to the current water licencing system which would impact Water Licences for SMRID, private irrigators, feedlots, and the entire irrigated agriculture sector.
The government is requesting all Albertans share their thoughts on ways to increase water availability and improve the water management system in Alberta.
We encourage all Irrigators to review the document below, which outlines a Call-to-action/key messaging document for the irrigation sector. It details the various ways Irrigators can participate in the Provincial Water Availability Engagement, provides key messaging on the most significant risks to irrigation and summarizes our top suggestions from the AIDAs white paper.
Read the Call to Action Here:We understand the volume of information included here may be overwhelming.
It simply comes down to the fact that drastic changes to the Water Act, such as clawing back licences, will have a negative impact on food production and jobs.
In the event that the in-person open house is not rescheduled, it is important to attend the virtual open houses and communicate the importance of in-person consultation of potential amendments to the Water Act.
Your engagement on this issue is crucial.
Sincerely,
David Westwood
General Manager
St. Mary River Irrigation District