NORTHERN ALBERTA GRAZING ASSOCIATION

Minutes of Annual Meeting - November 30, 2023

Members Present:

Bill Smith, President, Barbara Gaultier(Secretary/Treasurer), Lee Stevenson, Larr

Gaultier, Steve White, Karl Siemens, Kelvin Moodie, Leslie Mackie, Ray Marcy

Simon Wallan, Jim Peel, Grant Bulford, Jim LeGeyt, Nick Villiger, Doug

Vandemark, Benny E. Tschetter, Robin & Shirley McQuaig, John MacArthur, Gra

Bulford, Allan Martin, Neil Hatch, Karol Hatch, Nathan Hatch, Danny Dorschied,

Jamie White, Trenton White, Andrew Airth, Gary Scorgie, Frank Peters, Guy

L'Heurex, Lyndon Derstine, Mark Wurz, Tyler Smith, Bernadine Morgan, George

Blackhurst, Ted Blackhurst, Gerry & Son(Birch Meadows)

Government Personnel

Debbie Stover, Katherine Haugan, James Hedges, Elizabeth Scheidegger, Mathew

Alexander, Jessica Carlyon, Jordyn Renaud, Jaime Walker

Guest Speakers

Debbie Coristine, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation and Assistant, Chelsa

Jan Penner, Alberta Energy Regulator

Eldon Pullishy, Fish & Wildlife

Meeting was called to order at 1:15 PM. Bill Smith welcomed leaseholders and

guests and asked that members review the minutes of November 19, 2022. There

were no concerns, comments or revisions to the minutes.

MOVED by Guy L'Heurex SECONDED by Doug Vandemark that the minutes be

adopted as read.

CARRIED

Business arising from the minutes of November 19, 2022, wherein Todd Loewen,

MLA Forestry, Parks & Tourism was committed to reducing timelines for disposition

renewals and transfers. The processes and timelines have definitely improved and no

longer an extreme backlog.

Treasurer's Report

Barbara Gaultier gave the Treasurer's Report. The balance as of November 30th is

$5,955.66. A breakdown of the Bank Balance for 2022-23 is as follows:

True balance for N.A.G.A. is $5,955.66.

A complete Financial Statement for the period of November 15, 2022 to November

30, 2023 was signed and verified by Lee Stevenson and Jim Peel.

MOVED by Jim LeGeyt to adopt the Treasurer's report and Financial Statement for November 30, 2023. SECONDED by Jamie White

CARRIED

3) Debbie Coristine from Agriculture Financial Services Corporation gave a quick overview of programs offered by AFSC. Annual and perennial crop Insurance, AgreStability, Livestock Price Insurance, followed by questions, concerns and frustrations since the County of Grande Prairie was left out of 2023 AgreRecovery program. Especially difficult for livestock producers. Bill Smith advised that MD's Ag Service Boards and Rural Municipalities have met with MLA's and sent letters of concern. The Provincial Minister pushed the Federal Government to look at this differently, however was not hopeful it will change their agenda.

4) Jan Penner from Alberta Energy Regulator gave a quick overview of the area she covers in the North and her role as an Assessor. Forested white zone areas going to forested reclamation sites are required to comply with certain criteria. Implementation for the new reclamation criteria is based on the construction period, before 1994 or after 2007. Sites constructed after 2007 must comply with 2010 Criteria. Land owners need to talk to oil/gas/pipeline companies before a Reclamation Certificate is issued, as that confirms the completion of all required reclamation work according to the criteria set out. Some leaseholders have grave concerns as these reclamation sites are being put back to trees and are now losing those grass areas, while still paying rent for those areas, but results in less AUM’s. Jan was not aware of some of these repercussions and suggested lobbying the Government to change or amend some of the criteria. ie: Ministry of Alberta Environment Protected Areas. RESOLUTION: Be it resolved NAGA will lobby the Ministry of Alberta Environment Protected Areas within the year to address members concerns regarding decisions made by AEPA, which financially impacts the land owner. Should land owners have concerns, questions or general inquiries, someone can be reached at 1-855-297-8311 or Inquiries@aer.ca. A complaint can be submitted anytime throughout the process and after the site is certified. 1 year to appeal and 30 days to submit an SOC. Complaints can be dealt with at Energy & Environmental 24-hr response line(1-800-222-6514)

5) Eldon Pullishy from Fish & Wildlife enlightened our members of the area he covers, High Prairie, Peace River and Grande Prairie. Gave a quick update on staff changes and hiring of new staff and dispatch centre. If need immediate help, call Report a Poacher to get a quicker response. Credit claims haven’t changed, go through the same process. 350 claims this year, hot spots were Valleyview and Manning. No changes on Grizzly conflicts with livestock or remediation by producers. If domestic animals shot, need to go through RCMP, do not disturb but try and preserve as best as you can ie: tarps etc. Take pictures and forward with time and date. Many questions ensued by members, and answered by Eldon.

BREAK FOR COFFEE

6) Debbie Stover, Team Lead, from Gov of AB introduced her staff:

Spirit River- Elizabeth Scheidegger; Fairview-Jaime Walker; Jessica Carlyon filling in for Liz now helping with PGR’s and Lands; Jordyn Renaud taking over for Debbie

 as she is retiring in May/24; Valleyview-James Hedges; Peace River-Mathew Alexander.

Debbie reminded the members Stock Returns need to be filled out by Jan 31/24. Paper copies are available if members are not online. A reminder passwords change annually. Also can update rec access info with conditions when filing online. A note to members, leases assigned have old contacts, so need to update rec access info and if you have multiple leases, a rec access needs to be completed for each lease. If leaseholders are requiring contact for permission to access leaseland, answer your phone, otherwise they are calling Dept of Forestry, Parks & Tourism. Also leaseholders CANNOT limit number of hunters. Debbie advised members should they submit Range Improvement Applications, they need to indicate more details. Anything over 5 hectares needs first nations consultation which can take up to 30 days. Debbie touched on criteria on haying on grazing leases. On/off dates are recommended for bush June 15 to Sept30; on tame June 1 to Oct 15 but are exceptions. Debbie touched briefly on the Water Act and DRAS (Digital Regulatory Assurance System)which impacts leaseholders if they want to put in a culvert etc. while maintaining high environmental standards. Assignments getting processed a lot quicker. A reminder that rental rates was the last year of the 5 year phase in. Next year will be higher and more expensive. Materials available for leaseholders to take, Use Respect Signs, information sheets and booklets on invasive plants.

7) Ray Marcy, Vice-Chairman AGLA gave a brief update of meetings with the Alberta Grazing Association and Government. Lots on the agendas, ongoing and nothing concrete to report. Although clearing for fence lines has been a contentious issue and the wild fires having a major impact, 10 meter width for fences in forested areas is not sufficient for fire reduction and is now being seriously looked at.

8) Bill Smith, President, gave a brief update of meetings attended in Edmonton, Red Deer, Airdrie and Calgary in conjunction with AGLA and other stakeholders. Bill stressed the importance of NAGA’s presence at these meetings, otherwise we are overlooked and our voices go unheard. Bill also stressed that Board members time is voluntary and there are a lot of meetings. However, there are Board members up for renewal next year, so consider putting your name forward. Bill touched on the matter of a website to keep leaseholders informed of events, issues, concerns, meetings and government regulation/policy updates. This would be an additional and extra ordinary cost to NAGA. It has been suggested that membership fees are too low and if we want to address the needs of our members, whether hiring legal expertise or other, we do not have sufficient funds to address and accommodate those needs. A suggestion was made to increase the membership fees to $50 for a private lease and $250 for an Association. After some discussion, a MOTION was put forward

WHEREAS the work NAGA does on behalf of grazing leaseholders is vital to advocating their rights to manage their leaseland and be economically viable.

Therefore it is important for NAGA to have access to sufficient funds should legal expertise services be required to support our members.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the current annual membership fee for a private lease is $75.00 and for an Association a flat fee of $350, effective 2024.

MOVED by Lee Stevenson SECONDED by Guy L’Heurex

CARRIED

No further business or concerns to be addressed. MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Meeting Adjourned at 4:10 PM