Lethbridge activists, frightened by AB Energy Minister Mel Knight’s nasty trick - Bill 46, have organized a demonstration at 9:00 am,Wednesday October 31st, 2007 outside the Lethbridge Centre, 5th Ave South& 5th St South.
The purpose of the demonstration is to show public opposition to Bill 46, on the same day that the EUB (Energy and Utilities Board) will hold a public hearing, at the Lethbridge Centre, to re-initiate the MATL (Montana Alberta Tie Ltd.) application process which was cancelled in the face of public outcry over the EUB spies scandal.
After learning about the details of various sections of Bill 46, attendees of a public information meeting held Friday night at the Lethbridge Public Library, were concerned, alarmed, and angry. Joe Anglin, Vice Chair of theLavesta Area Group (one of the landowner groups spied on by the EUB) spoke to a packed room about Bill 46 and how it seeks to undermine Albertans'basic democratic rights.
Bill 46 is legislation designed to violate and diminish the rights of Albertans. The Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta is planning to pass this bill in November.
Bill 46 — The Alberta Utilities Commission Act:
- Authorizes the Commission to make an order or decision without giving public notice and without holding a hearing;
- Gives the proposed Alberta Utilities Commission the power to prevent landowners and the affected public from making verbal representations, even if a hearing is held;
- Restricts the ability of landowners and the affected public from to hire outside legal counsel when intervening in regulatory hearings;
- Eliminates any requirement for industry to prove a transmission line is needed by the public, or is in the best interest of the public; and
- Is retroactive to June 1, 2003.
Mr. Anglin outlined how some of the sections in Bill 46 would combine to make legal the EUB's illegal behaviors in the handling of the MATL application. He emphasized that "opposition to this bill is not about transmission lines, or power plants". Rather, it is about a Bill that degrades democratic process and removes "three basic rights of public participation; the right to be informed, the right to object, and the right to present evidence to your objection". Anglin called Section 24(1) "the death nail in the coffin of your rights".
If this sounds like fiction, it's not. However 'unbelievable' it sounds, the truth is, this Bill amounts to a gag order on the public, and is an insult to democracy and the'public interest'.
This legislation impacts the rights of all Albertans. Speak up now, or the erosion of your rights will continue until you are completely powerless.
