A Guide to Appearing before the Surface Rights Board of Alberta

Donavon L. Porter is a public-school teacher in Haileybury, Ontario.

This Working Paper will be of specific interest to landholders in the Province of Alberta but may also prove to be of interest to anyone looking for a clear approach in dealing with government bureaucracy. The authors have been careful to write the report in language understandable to the layman while maintaining a quality suitable for professionals in the field. Legal references are clearly defined and a list of the appropriate abbreviations and definitions is included.

The authors describe the legislated functions of the Surface Rights Board and explain what the Board can and cannot do. Advice is given on choosing lawyers, preparing documentation, and assessing the validity of one’s case. Key cases which have set precedents in the Board’s rulings are outlined and the legal issues at stake are discussed. The Working Paper concludes with a summary of the major recommendations made by the Select Committee to Review Surface Rights.