Alberta’s government has established the Surface Rights Advisory Panel to bring together landowners, municipalities, industry and other experts to recommend improvements to Alberta’s surface rights system. Once appointed, the panel will provide advice on improving service delivery, dispute resolution and property rights for landowners, with its recommendations informing the province's work to re-establish the Surface Rights Board and improve the responsiveness and timeliness of the surface rights system.

“Landowners deserve a surface rights system that works for them. This panel will help us cut through the challenges and identify practical solutions that better protect property rights and improve how the system works.”

Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction

Kris Bower has been appointed chair of the Surface Rights Advisory Panel. With more than a decade of experience working on land ownership and surface rights issues as a professional land agent, and as the president and founder of 2G Land Ltd., Kris brings extensive expertise to the role.

“I am honoured to chair this panel and look forward to working collaboratively with members to develop practical recommendations that strengthen Alberta's surface rights system for everyone.”

Kris Bower, chair, Surface Rights Advisory Panel

The Surface Rights Advisory Panel will include representatives from agriculture, landowners, rural municipalities, industry and surface rights advocacy organizations. Members of the panel bring a broad range of expertise that provide practical advice to help improve Alberta's surface rights system.

Quick facts

  • Alberta’s surface rights system helps resolve disputes between landowners and companies when private land is used for resource development.
  • As of March 31, the Land and Property Rights Tribunal has received about 9,000 surface rights applications in 2025-26, the highest number on record. 
  • In 2025-26, more than $44 million in compensation has been directed to landowners (up from $29.8 million in 2024-25).
  • In 2021, the Surface Rights Board was merged into the Land and Property Rights Tribunal through the Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2020.

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