Government Of Alberta Introduces New, Flexible Wetlands Policy

On September 10, 2013, the Government of Alberta announced its new Alberta Wetland Policy (Policy), which has been developed in an effort to conserve, restore, protect and manage Alberta's wetlands while providing regulatory certainty, clarity and predictability to proponents and regulators. This Policy will eventually replace the current wetland policy in Alberta, Wetland Management in the Settled Area of Alberta: An Interim Policy (1993). The Policy will be effective from the date of approval but the timeline for its implementation has yet to be developed. Noteworthy aspects of the Policy include the following:

• The Policy will apply to natural wetlands in Alberta, including bogs, fens, swamps, marshes and shallow open water; all restored natural wetlands; and wetlands constructed for the purpose of wetland replacement.