Dear Editor:
Since the introduction of Bill 24, it has become clear that government either does not understand the potential negative impact of its actions upon agricultural land preservation, farmers and farm communities or knows exactly what it is doing but isn’t being upfront about it.
The rationale for Bill 24 keeps changing, likely a direct result of the effectiveness with which British Columbians and the legislative opposition have discredited its every aspect.
First, the provincial government said it was about shorter growing seasons in northern B.C. and too much ‘marginal’ land in the ALR, much of it forested.
It took a substantive letter from a group of soil scientists and professional agrologists to explain that northern lands can be highly productive for specific crops and that the land’s ability to support agriculture has nothing to do with present land use.
Then, government said two ALR zones were necessary to reflect the diversity of agriculture in B.C.
During the establishment of the original ALR boundaries, over 300 public meetings were held throughout the province, many of them jointly by local government and the Agricultural Land Commission.
Part of that process was to ensure that the ALR protected lands that reflected the agricultural character of each region.
In Thompson, Cariboo and Omineca, for example, agriculture relies heavily upon so-called marginal ALR lands for forage production and grazing. Significantly, B.C. Cattlemen’s Association has expressed strong opposition to Bill 24.
Government then took refuge in its message that Bill 24 is all about helping farmers make a living.
However, of the example land uses cited that potentially could be allowed within the ALR in Zone 2, including fruit processing, agri-tourism and animal boarding kennels, a quick look at current ALC regulations confirms that all of these are either already permitted within the ALR or can be – and often are – approved through the application process.
Lack of consultation on Bill 24 has been a particular vulnerability for government and is reflected in its contents.
On the day Bill 24 was introduced, Minister Bennett admitted it wasn’t done and offered his “mea culpa”. Since then, however, government has changed its message.
Minister Letnick now maintains that the extensive discussions carried out by the ALC Chair in 2010 were part of the consultation on Bill 24.
Really? Nowhere in the ALC chair’s report is there any recommendation to establish two ALR zones or any support for the regional panel model, which has already been tried and has failed in the past.
Over the decades, the ALR has proven to be a valuable land use planning tool.
There are many instances where the ALC and local government have worked together to contain urban sprawl and ensure a positive environment for farming within the ALR.
It is noteworthy that three of the five local government associations in B.C. and more than 15 individual municipalities or regional districts have either passed resolutions or submitted letters expressing concern at the lack of consultation or expressing outright opposition to Bill 24. I cannot think of another piece of legislation that has been so thoroughly thrashed from every angle as Bill 24.
Not only has government not made its case on why these changes are needed or how they will fix what is perceived to be broken, but each rationale that government has offered has been discredited as effectively as the previous rationale.
With the legislative and public debate of past weeks, Bill 24 has been left without a leg to stand on.
Time to put it out of its misery.
Either let Bill 24 die on the order paper or pass the Opposition amendment to send it to the Finance Committee for review and the consultation that is warranted, but was not done.
Then, let’s get back on track and do what government says it is committed to doing – helping today’s farmers and safeguarding agricultural land for future generations.
Editor’s Note: Joan Sawicki worked at the Land Commission during its formative years 1973-81; is a former MLA, Speaker and Minister of Environment Lands and Parks, and is currently a land use consultant living in Stuie in the Bella Coola Valley.
