NAGA’s Director Meeting

March 27, 2026

Grovedale Museum

7:30 PM

Minutes

Members in attendance:  Bill Smith(President), Barb Gaultier (Sec/Treasurer), Ray Marcy, Sheldon Tissington, Jamie White, Jim Peel and Everett Smith.  Missing:  Lee Stevenson, Larry Gaultier, Gary Scorgie

1)  Lobby Government to allow Reclamation Sites to remain in grass.  To amend criteria from decisions made by Ministry of Alberta Environment Protected Areas.  (Minutes of 2023).  After much discussion, it was suggested we write a letter to the Minister and lobby change.  However after further discussion it was decided that this was an important concern to be addressed directly with Minister Todd Loewen.

2)  Alberta Mature Asset Strategy.  Round table discussion took place and was resolved that a lot of leaseholders do not have wells on their leaseland so many of these asset issues are not really applicable in the north.    However any industry or oil and gas activity, which affects southern Alberta to a greater degree, must meet stringent requirements.  As well, any leaseholder with concerns in regards to financial security, industry cleanup, timelines and liabilities concerns, should contact and lobby their MLA.  NAGA will be advocating for leaseholders concerning Reclamation.

3)  Lobby Minister Loewen on criteria for fence lines. After some discussion, it was decided that this was another issue that should be clarified by Minister Todd Loewen.  Different rules mandated by different Agrologists.

4)  Update on Grazing Timber Integration Manual-modernization.  Everett attended 1 meeting voicing concerns on behalf of leaseholders and was advised that follow-up meetings will be held to address further concerns in order to finalize guidelines and/or regulations.  However after a lengthy time had passed, Everett inquired as to when the next meeting was to take place.  He was informed that the meeting had already taken place and decisions/policy now finalized.  So no members from the North were invited to this meeting and these implemented policies will directly affect our leaseholders.  After some discussion, it was agreed that this is another area of concern to be brought to the attention of Minister Todd Loewen.  

5)  Bill C293-Fed Gov Reg on Pandemic, Prevention and Preparedness.  Barb provided an update.  This dangerous Bill has been passed by the Federal Gov even after many letters of concern and passed the First Reading in the Senate.  It has yet to pass 2^nd and 3^rd Reading in the Senate.  Hopefully a change in Government will reject and repeal this Bill.

6)  Bill 7 Water Amendment Act.  Bill advised that the Water Amendment Act is very positive for leaseholders and private landowners.   Prior to the Amendment Act, leaseholders/landowners were allotted 2500 CM bodies of water.  It is now increased to 7500 CM which will help enormously and no licence required.

7)  Lobby Minister to bring down transfer costs ie:  adding/deleting name from $3,150 to a reasonable and fair fee.  Many leaseholders are calling and expressing their dissatisfaction of the extreme cost of changing a name on the registration of leaseland.  $550 is a fee charged by Alberta Land Titles for a name change.  A lawyer charges $800 plus admin fee for the same procedure.  This is another area of concern that will be addressed directly with Minister Todd Loewen.

8)  Post on Website rental rates for 2026.  North Zone - $6.97, South Zone - $9.94.  Bill and Jamie confirmed that these are the correct rates and gave the nod to post on NorthernAlbertaGrazing.com.

9)  Rangeland Sustainability Program.  A program that Barb commented on that has had no benefit to leaseholders in the north, except for a small fund given to the Peace Forage Seed Association.  The Government should be more transparent on the funding disbursed from this program as the north never meets the prerequisites to even apply for funding.  Will further investigate and research opportunities to qualify.

10)  Fed Gov proposed Livestock Traceability Regulations.  NAGA’s written response to discontinue implemented regulations was sent to Canadian Food Inspection Agency, AAFC Minister Heath MacDonald,  AB Ag Minister R.J. Sigurdson, Minister Todd Loewen, MLA Nolan Dyck and MLA Ron Wiebe.  Jamie advised that he is now officially a delegate of Alberta Beef Producers as of March 2, 2026 and at their Annual General Meeting a working group was formed from members of ABP, BC Stockmans Assoc, Saskatchewan Stockmans Assoc, Western Stock Growers Assoc, CFIA and other provinces across Canada to discuss the Proposed New Traceability Rules under the Health of Animals Act.  The Regulations as proposed are currently paused for further consultation and any amended regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.  Jamie noted that he’d asked if and when the upated regulations were being made public that it would be published in more than just the Canada Gazette, as no farmer/rancher/leaseholder etc casually reads or reviews this Government media.

11)  Operational Committee Meeting – Feb 10.  Bill and Jamie updated the Directors on the meeting in Red Deer.  Most of their agenda we have already addressed in this meeting.  The Chair person, Alexandra Miller Tait is not as approachable as Rob Simieritsch, so difficult to have a meaningful discussion on topics she is not as knowledgeable about.   Dept of Forestry & Parks is reviewing the PGR Program and have contracted Serecon Inc to work with PGR Associations to collaborate information on preserving the future of their reserves.  As re-iterated on many occasions, Bill echoed these meetings are redundant, as the same issues are discussed and never resolved.  A once a year meeting with the Minister could have all these ongoing issues dealt with, with follow-up as necessary.

12)  AGLA – AGM Feb 25.  Bill did not attend though Ray attended on Zoom.  Ray advised he listened in on the meeting but was not called upon to comment.

13)  ABP –March 2 – Traceability Regulations.  This item was discussed and addressed in Agenda item 10.

14)  Perry Shwetz -  Barb relayed her conversation with a leaseholder from Waskatenau, AB,  1 hr south of LacLaBiche.  Has 10,000 acres of leaseland and there are at least 20 or more leaseholders in that area that never heard of NAGA.  They would like to join NAGA as they feel their voices are not being heard and AGLA is not there to help them with their concerns.  They feel AGLA has only time for Southern Alberta issues.  He says he was a Director on AGLA for 2-3 years but was never listened to or able to fully get the northern leaseholders concerns across.  Eventually AGLA ousted him as a Director.  The leaseholders in that area are dealing with an Agrologist from Southern Alberta and she knows nothing about the issues that leaseholders have to deal with in the north.  Very frustrating and looking for an avenue of help.  Requested to be a Director of  NAGA to represent that northern area.  I advised him that we are having a Directors meeting and would inform the President and Directors of our conversation and get back to him.  In reviewing our by-laws, it states if a vacancy occurs for a Director, a nomination must occur at the next Annual General Meeting, wherein a member in good standing is nominated, then the members endorse that member through a show of hands.  Bill and the Directors agreed we have to include them in our organization but perhaps they would like to attend a meeting or 2 before getting involved as a Director.  I will be contacting Perry and relating the overview of our discussion.

Items of Action:

Barb to submit a list of questions/concerns to Minister Loewen and set up a meeting at his convenience.

Contact Perry Shwetz with respect to membership