Land and Property Rights Tribunal – Overview

The Tribunal shall deliver fair and impartial quasi-judicial appeal processes for assessment, compensation, land use planning, and other matters that impact Albertans and the municipalities in which they live.

The Tribunal will be a leader among tribunals with a reputation for excellence in adjudication.
Albertans will have access to a fair and independent process with strict adherence to the principles of natural justice and in which all individuals are treated fairly and without bias in an open, orderly and impartial manner.

This vision will be attained by:

1. providing benchmark decisions
2. advocating excellence and providing guidance in decision making to stakeholders
3. demonstrating efficiency, effectiveness and timeliness in the appeal process
4. respecting rights of individuals, businesses, corporations and municipalities
5. ensuring that all property assessments are equitable, fair and correct in accordance with legislation
6. striving for consistency and predictability based on evidence presented

In service to stakeholders the Tribunal values:

1. Our strength through the diversity of our members and the quality of our staff.
2. The right to natural justice and timeliness in the adjudication process.
3. Respect for and responsiveness to our stakeholders.
4. Provision of quality service to stakeholders.
5. Consistent interpretation of legislation.
6. Commitment to the Code of Conduct and Ethics.
7. Organizational alignment and a team approach to problem-solving.
8. Innovative use of automated information services.
9. Continuous organizational development, self-improvement and self-evaluation.
10. Enriched and rewarding work environment which recognizes productivity.

Susan McRory spent 20 years as Alberta’s chief environmental prosecutor. During that time, she helped develop and grow the province’s system of creative sentences for environmental offenders. Prior to her work in the environment, she was the first full-time female Crown prosecutor north of Edmonton, the first woman appointed a chief Crown prosecutor west of Ontario, and routinely handled murder cases before being recognized as the Edmonton office’s expert in historical child sexual assault.

Leaving Alberta Justice in 2013, she served as a member of the Environmental Appeals Board for Alberta, a public member with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, and has co-authored the 2nd edition of Regulatory Offences in Canada with Canadian legal legend John Swaigen. She lives in Edmonton with her husband, Tim; her cats, Charlie, Samantha and Livy; and their new dog, Lily, across the street from the house her grandfather built in 1912.

Mike Hartfield has been with the Land and Property Rights Tribunal since 2015, serving as its Director of Operations. He’s a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 20 years of business experience spanning private industry, public accounting, federal and provincial governments. In his spare time, Mike enjoys golfing and driving his kids to their various sporting events.

Mike D’Alquen was counsel for the Municipal Government Board and the New Home Buyer Protection Board from 2007 to 2021, when they amalgamated with the Surface Rights Board and the Land Compensation Board. He continues to serve as counsel to the Land and Property Rights Tribunal, with particular emphasis on land planning and assessment matters. Mike also worked with the Municipal Government Board from 2004 to 2007 as case manager for Linear Property and Assessment Appeals.

Karen is currently legal counsel to the Land and Property Rights Tribunal, with particular emphasis on expropriation and surface rights matters. Karen obtained her LL.B. from the University of Alberta in 1989 and was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1990.

Karen left private practice in 2004 to serve as legal counsel to the Surface Rights Board and was appointed as a member of the Land Compensation Board from 2004 to 2007.  From 2007 to 2021, Karen served as legal counsel to both Boards until they amalgamated with the Municipal Government Board and New Home Buyer Protection Board. Karen previously served as Chair of the Canadian Bar Association National Administrative Law Section and Chair of the Canadian Bar Association Alberta Administrative Law (North). Karen was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2014.

Jennifer Chabot began with the Tribunal in 2010 and has risen through the ranks to become the Manager of Operations. In this role she is responsible for coordination of all aspects of Tribunal administration, to support staff and Members and assist Albertans. She has a wide and varied background, with a BSc in Nutrition and Food Sciences, a Certificate in Human Resources and Labour Relations, and she is a member of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR Alberta). Her work experience includes the private, non-profit and public sectors as a manager, human resource specialist, administrative assistant, benefits representative, insurance underwriter, and coach/fitness instructor. Jennifer describes herself as a ‘translator’ to help communicate business needs and coordinate projects between IT, management and staff. On a personal note, she is certified as a Life and Success Coach and a Health Coach.