Young farmers need more land in the province, not less.
That was BC Fruit Growers’ Association president Fred Steele’s response to the government’s proposed changes to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC).
The commission has been the topic of a core review by the province, which has introduced some amendments (Bill 24) to improve how the agency operates.
For example, Bill 24 creates two agricultural zones to recognize the province’s regional differences. In Zone 1 (prime farmland in the Okanagan, Similkameen, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island), ALC decisions will continue to be made on the original principle of preserving farmland.
In Zone 2 (the Interior, Kootenays and north regions), ALC decisions will now include additional considerations to give farmers more flexibility to support their operations. For example, non-agricultural home-based businesses will be considered as part of this flexibility that looks at new, value-added farming activities.
The government says this flexibility responds to concerns from farmers in areas where growing seasons are shorter and they need year-round income.
But Steele said Zone 2 is far too broad, and the BCFGA wants Zone 1 to cover all areas of BC.
“We favour one zone with the criteria being agriculture as the first consideration in all areas of the province.”
Steele said they are not saying there shouldn’t be value-added farming, but Zone 2 rules encourage other developments that encroach on farmland.
Steele pointed out that farmers who use the latest growing methods are getting good value from the land.
The president said his biggest question about Bill 24 is, “What’s the hurry?”
Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick said the amendments take into account the written feedback of British Columbians and input gained from meetings with BC agricultural leaders.
Letnick said the amendments allow the ALC chair or regional panel to refer applications to the ALC’s executive committee, (if the chair determines that a decision could have substantial impact on the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). The executive committee consists of the chair and the six vice chairs, one from each region.
The minister said Bill 24 clearly outlines the criteria that the commission must consider in all land use decisions in Zone 2. The list begins with whether any proposal meets the parameters of preserving agricultural land and whether it encourages farming.
Letnick said BC is a diverse province with different agricultural practices and different development pressures.
“A one-size-fits-all approach to regulating farmland does not reflect this reality,” he pointed out.
In any event, Letnick said the changes preserve agricultural land as the number one priority in BC.
But Stan Vander Waal, chair of the BC Agriculture Council (BCAC), isn’t convinced.
He said their position has always been one zone.
“We believe if it’s good in one area of the province it’s also good in other areas.”
Vander Waal said they advocate agricultural interests as the first and primary criteria in any decision that the ALC makes on all applications.
“Should this bill succeed, we have asked the minister for assurance that the BCAC will be directly involved with government in the regulation building process, but also with a goal of a net gain to agriculture.”
Vander Waal said food sustainability in BC is very important, and they need to hold the government accountable to achieve the best outcome for agriculture.
“Our BC fruit growers are a key component to this strategy,” he concluded.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
