The Environmental Appeals Board’s hearing regarding the approval issued by Alberta Environment and Parks to Badlands Recreation Development, has been scheduled for May 16-18, 2022 via videoconference.
The hearing was scheduled for February of this year, but it was postponed.
In January 2020, Alberta Environment and Parks approved an application from Badlands Recreation Development Corp. to place fill in two wetlands, to modify three wetlands, and to construct, operate and carry out maintenance of a stormwater management system.
Following the approval on January 8, 2020, the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board issued a decision on April 28, 2020. The board received 27 Notices of Appeal of the approval.
The board reviewed these submissions to gauge whether the appellants were directly affected and whether a stay should be granted. The board found of the 27 notices of appeal, seven were directly affected.
“A recent Alberta Court of Appeal decision commented on the board’s rules for standing. As a result of this court decision, the board is reviewing its original decision on standing,” Gilbert Van Nes, General Counsel and Settlement Officer, Environmental Appeals Board, previously told the Mail.
According to correspondence from Denise Black, Board Secretary Environmental Appeals Board, “Once the hearing closes, the Board will provide the Minister of Environment and Parks with its Report and Recommendations within 30 days pursuant to its legislation. The Minister typically makes his decision within 30 days.”
The Approval is for infilling two wetlands, modifying three wetlands, and constructing, operating and carrying out maintenance of a stormwater management system for the Badlands Motorsport Resort.
The hearing is with respect to the wetlands and stormwater management system, and not the racetrack project as a whole.
A Consent Order was filed in the Court of Queen’s Bench on December 7, 2020, stating Badlands undertakes to not conduct any physical alteration of the wetlands subject to the Approval until the Minister makes a decision on these appeals.

Rockyford residents will once again head to the polls in a by-election after the results of the October 2021 municipal election were contested by a candidate.
It was reported in the December 8 edition of the Mail incumbent candidate April Geeraert had challenged the election results after it was discovered a resident of rural Wheatland County had cast a ballot in both the Wheatland election and the Rockyford election.
“During the last general election, we had a non-resident (who) voted,” the village announced on its official Facebook page on Monday, December 13. “The election resulted in a tie that was settled by putting the names in a box and one being pulled out.”
Kathleen Morin, whose name was drawn from the box following the tie, was removed from the village council following the court decision on Thursday, December 9; the by-election will be between the two tied candidates, Morin and Geeraert.
“Council will make the decision on the date (of the by-election), and the by-election will then be advertised according to the (Municipal Government Act) legislation,” CAO Elaine Macdonald told the Mail.
She adds this will come before council during the first regular council meeting in January 2022.