An MD of Bonnyville landowner is raising concerns about the municipality’s use of roadway licensing agreements, arguing they are increasingly limiting public access to undeveloped road allowances.

Warren Garnier, who owns land north of La Corey, says the growing number of agreements allowing gates and fencing on road allowances is discouraging residents from using land he believes should remain open to the public and wildlife.

Concerns over access and land use

Garnier says even when gates are technically unlocked, their presence alone is enough to deter people from using the area. In his view, gated road allowances make it harder for residents to enjoy activities such as walking, horseback riding, hunting, and berry picking, while also impacting wildlife movement and habitat.

He argues road allowances should remain open spaces that benefit the broader public rather than serving the interests of a small number of adjacent landowners or commercial users.

How roadway licences work

Under MD of Bonnyville policy, council has discretion to approve roadway licensing agreements on undeveloped road allowances. The policy recognizes benefits tied to agricultural and industrial use, including cattle grazing and access to oil and gas infrastructure.

Licence holders are permitted to cross-fence road allowances and install gates, but policy states access must not be restricted. Locking mechanisms are not allowed, and public access is meant to be maintained.

Garnier maintains that, in practice, access is often made difficult despite the policy, and that the presence of gates across public right-of-ways discourages use regardless of whether they are locked.

Council discussion highlights differing views

Garnier brought his concerns to council again on Jan. 13, as council considered first readings on 10 roadway licence renewal requests and final approval of two others.

Newly elected Ward 4 councillor Ed Duchesne voted against all the renewals, citing concerns about public access. Duchesne said he does not support licensing road allowances to private parties and believes they should remain fully accessible under municipal control.

Other councillors responded that the public is still legally allowed to use licensed road allowances and that gates are not permitted to be locked. They acknowledged there have been instances of padlocks or chains but described enforcement as complaint-driven, encouraging residents to report violations to administration so they can be addressed.

Trespassing cited in licensing requests

One licensing bylaw on the agenda specifically cited trespassing and mischief as reasons for renewing the agreement. Administration’s notes stated the roadway was being used for grazing purposes and to deter misuse on roads no longer in active use.

Road allowances, which are laid out under the Dominion Land Survey system, exist every second township line north-south and every mile east-west. While owned by the Province of Alberta, they are managed by municipalities and may be developed into roads if needed.

Ongoing debate

Roadway licensing agreements are approved for three-year terms and must go through public advertising before receiving final readings. At the end of each term, administration may renew the agreements.

Garnier believes public awareness around the issue is low and worries that incremental changes will continue without broader discussion.

He says as more agreements are approved, public access slowly erodes, leaving residents unaware of what they are losing until it is gone.