Energy minister introduces changes to contentious bill

After weeks of criticism, the Alberta government has amended parts of a controversial bill to overhaul the way energy and utility hearings are held.

The province introduced two main changes to Bill 46 Tuesday, even as a small group of protesters worried about how the legislation may restrict landowners' rights huddled on the steps of the legislature in Edmonton.

A section will be removed from Bill 46 that would have allowed a newly formed Alberta Utilities Commission to make a decision without a hearing if it felt no one was directly affected "in a material way."

This concession addresses a main concern that landowners would be denied the right to participate in hearings and voice opposition to proposed energy developments.

The change also makes it clear that affected landowners must be notified about upcoming hearings.

Under the amendments, they will also be eligible to apply for money to help pay for research and legal advice.

"We listened to landowners. We heard from Albertans. We responded with changes," said Energy Minister Mel Knight. "Alberta landowners will have their say on proposed developments affecting them, such as new electricity lines."

Bill 46 aims to streamline the energy approval process and to split the current Energy and Utilities Board into two new agencies.

If the bill passes before the end of the fall sitting next week, those changes will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2008.

Joe Anglin, a landowner who is leading opposition against Bill 46, said the bill is badly flawed and should be killed rather than amended.

The province's energy regulator is still recovering from revelations that it hired private investigators to spy on landowners opposed to a power line between Edmonton and Calgary.