MD Council notes

C. Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Upcoming Public Meetings

The MD of Pincher Creek No. 9 has scheduled a Public Meeting to be held on
Tuesday,  March 27,  2012 at 6 pm at the MD Administration Office, 753 Kettles Street for input on the McLaughlin Wind Farm Project. The application can be inspected at the MD office with an appointment.  For more information contact MD Development Office Roland  Milligan at 403-627-3130, or email rmilligan@mdpinchercreek.ab.ca.

Land Use Amendment Bylaw 1222-12 will be the subject of a Public Meeting to be held Tuesday, April 10.


 Waterton Biosphere Reserve Carnivore Working Group (CWG)

At the Tuesday, March 13 meeting of the MD of Pincher Creek Council No. 9 Councillor Helen Cyr asked Council for direction regarding her attendance at meetings of the CWG.  Council was somewhat divided on the issue.  "Should I continue to attend as a paid representative of council or go as a landowner with carnivore problems?" she asked.  Councillor Bjorn Berg suggested it was "

more a responsibility for us to give it to the the AG Services Board."  Councillor Terry Yagos said "I would like to find out what the other councils are doing
. What commitment have the other councils made to it besides sending somebody there?  I guess it would show support for our ratepayers, that we recognize there is a problem"

"I'm just concerned about the appropriateness of a government body, us, helping set the policy for a non government body," said Berg.  "I think it puts our councillor and our council in not a good position. I would prefer we maintain a bit of arm's length," continued Berg.  A motion to allow Helen Cyr to attend as an MD Councillor failed.  It was decided to have the AG Services Board determine how information from the working group would get back to Council.

In addition, Council discussed a letter from the CWG, asking for support. The letter was received as information.

Background: Waterton Biosphere Reserve Carnivore Working Group (CWG):

The Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association (WBRA) became the recipient of a grant
from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD) in the fall of 2011. WBRA seeks to "reduce human-carnivore conflict issues in Southwestern Alberta, with a specific focus on grizzly bears, black bears, and wolves."

The WBRA vison statement states:
"Ideally, we would like to see the following outcomes:

• People and large carnivores can both have a place on the landscape in southwest Alberta.
• Economic losses to the ranchers and farmers of the area are prevented through cooperative projects.
• When economic losses occur, the individuals are fairly compensated.
• Projects improve public safety and prevent bears and wolves from becoming problem animals.
• Accurate bear and wolf population numbers are determined and these numbers are instrumental in managing the populations at levels that are appropriate, both biologically, and within the context of keeping human-carnivore conflicts to minimum."

Some of the large carnivore projects in southwestern Alberta:

• Dead livestock bin/pick-up program.
• Ranch based feed storage and ranch yard protection projects.
• DYCP/Miistakis Institute Cowboys and Carnivores mapping tool and alert system.
• Community Oriented Wolf Strategy (COWS) program
• Composting initiative
• Bear-proof grain bins
• Calving Ground Protection
• Feed Storage Fencing

Meetings of the CWG will be held at least three times a year.

Relevant link: www.watertonbiosphere.com