EDMONTON—The Alberta government introduced a new law on Dec. 5 to stop squatters from taking over someone’s land. If passed, private landowners would have the same protections previously only governments could use to defend against squatters.
Tyler Shandro, Alberta’s justice minister, said at a news conference on Dec. 5: “Albertans value their land. They work hard to earn it, they work hard to maintain it, and they work hard to improve it. It’s their home, their place of relaxation and recreation, and for some Albertans, like our farmers and ranchers, the land is also their livelihood.”
Shandro said the law needs to be changed to protect the property rights of landowners. Under current law, said Shandro, it’s possible for someone who has been squatting on land to go to court and potentially claim ownership, which in Alberta is called adverse possession….