Oldman Lease Holders Association

10/17/2025

Hi, I'm David Torrie, and I'm running for Council for the MD of Taber. I was born and raised on a family farm outside of Grassy Lake. I'm a farmer, rancher, ...

10/14/2025

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09/29/2025

If you are a leaseholder and would like to stay up to date, please message us your email.

09/22/2025

Parker is practicing his speech for the meeting on Tuesday.

This isn't just about one family; it's about the future of our entire community. When we lose small family farms, we lose the kids. We lose the people who lead 4-H, volunteer for fundraisers, and keep our local businesses alive. This is a fight for the heart and soul of the MD of Taber.

Join Parker and others to tell the MD of Taber that our communities are not for sale!

Stand with us on Tuesday, September 23 at 9 a.m. at the MD of Taber office. Our future is worth fighting for.

09/17/2025

Our farming families have been the stewards of this native prairie, some of us for over 100 years. Now, the MD of Taber is changing the rules and pushing a project that threatens not only our land, but our way of life. This isn't just a political issue; it's a fight for the heart of our community.

The MD of Taber is moving towards new policies and projects that will destroy local farming families. These newly proposed lease agreements put our community up for sale to the highest bidder. Say hello to your new neighbors; the Manufacturers Life Insurance Co.!

If you think their misjustice is isolated to just grazing lease holders, think again. The MD of Taber is also going into the water business with the BRID, creating competition with licensed water users and using an unfair advantage to access water at Scope Reservoir.

Show up and stand with us. Let's let the MD of Taber know that our community is not for sale.

We are calling on everyone who cares about our community, our farming families, and this land to attend the next MD of Taber Council meeting and be heard.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 23rd
WHERE: MD of Taber Council Chambers
TIME: 9:00 AM

09/16/2025

The link to attend the September 16, 2025 MDT Committee of the Whole meeting is. If you can not attend in person, please consider joining virtually.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ODg2Njk2NmQtOGQ2Yi00ODY1LThmNTktNTkyMjVhNGJjMGFk%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22af9ebc2e-fd0a-4985-a2ae-877b3eaa28af%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2268a3f215-2755-46a4-9c6a-6fe865601dca%22%7d

If you would like to speak to council. They are considering opening up comments at 9am. (This is still to be decided) Council will not engage in conversation with spectators during their formal discussion.

09/14/2025

Our Tax Recovery Land - Lease Holder Rights

This document, MD Transfer of Leases, was a key part of our discussions with the Municipal District of Taber regarding our rights as farmers and ranchers when land was transferred from the Province of Alberta to the MD of Taber. It was referenced in a series of community meetings we held recently, and it outlines the terms we agreed to for the Tax Recovery Land (TRL) leases.

The document confirms lease holders assertion that the Municipal District of Taber has developed policies to protect the interests of leaseholders.

Specifically, it states that:
✔️Leaseholders will have a first right of refusal for lease renewal at the end of each term.

✔️Leaseholders can assign a municipal grazing lease to a family member to ensure the long-term sustainability of their farms and ranches.

✔️Current and future leaseholders have the ability to purchase the tax recovery land they hold from the M.D. of Taber for its appraised market value, as long as a restricted covenant is registered on the title to prohibit the breaking of grassland for cultivation.

✔️The document also addresses revenue from mineral leases and seismic activity:

☑️Current surface mineral lease revenue will remain the same as under the Public Lands Lease until 2016. After that, TRL leaseholders will receive $400 per surface mineral lease.

☑️For new surface mineral leases after 2016, the leaseholder will get the payment the municipality receives for inconvenience, loss of use, and adverse effect, plus $800 in the first year and $400 each year after.

☑️Leaseholders will receive 100% of all revenue from seismic activity on leased lands.

This document is an important record of our agreement and the rights that were established to ensure the sustainability of our community. We are thankful that the MD attended our series of community meetings and we hope to go forward with continued collaboration.

09/13/2025

Attention MD of Taber lease holders. Please check this link for the new proposed leases:

https://taber.allnetmeetings.com/pubs/publicAgenda.aspx... #

We recommend that all grazing leaseholders attend Tuesday's Council of a Whole meeting. Legacy leases are now considered Transitional leases and are very different from the July draft agreements that were presented.

09/04/2025