After a couple of years of inactivity, the Manitoba Surface Rights Association (MSRA) held a board meeting on Dec. 5 to accept resignations and elect a new President and Vice President.
The new President is Bob Heaman (replacing Scott Andrew) and the VP is Kevin Gabrielle (replacing the late Carlyle Jorgensen). The Association will be looking for new board members to serve two-year terms at the Annual General Meeting to be held in early April 2019.
MSRA works cooperatively with government, the oil industry and landowners to develop economic and environmentally-sustainable practices that will benefit everyone.
Membership is comprised of Manitoba landowners with oil and gas related surface leases on their property. The Association provides them with information on surface rights issues (compensation, access, legal rights, etc.) and acts to lobby and inform government on issues important to our members.
Issues of concern for the Association include lack of data available from the Manitoba Surface Rights Board on negotiated compensation. (The Surface Rights Board, not to be confused with the Association, is a quasi-judicial body responsible to arbitrate disputes regarding “right of entry” or compensation for surface rights.)
Another concern for the MSRA - currently only three of the five members required under the Surface Rights Act have been appointed to the Surface Rights Board.
MSRA members have also identified concerns with the inadequacy of the Abandonment Fund Reserve Account and that industry fees have not kept up with potential costs.
The Association may be reached via the website or email at msra@rfnow.com. Please watch for specifics on the annual general meeting, open to members and the public, to be held in early 2019.
