Victoria/Fraser Valley -APRIL 22 UPDATE – Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture, has issued the following statement encouraging British Columbians to participate in the final week of consultations to revitalize the Agricultural Land Reserve and the Agricultural Land Commission:
“This is the final week to have your say in the revitalization of our province’s Agricultural Land Reserve by sharing your ideas, opinions and passion for British Columbia farms and food though the B.C. government’s consultation online: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/agriculturallandreserve
“Over recent weeks, 1,500 British Columbians from all walks of life, in communities around our province, have offered their thoughts and vision of how we can make it easier and more efficient for the Agricultural Land Commission to fulfil its mandate of preserving farmland and encouraging farming, and I encourage all British Columbians to make sure their voice is heard.
“Your input on ALR topics like on-farm processing and sales, residential uses, and creating a defensible and defended land reserve, will help frame recommendations for an ALR that will serve generations.
“Please, before 4 p.m. on Monday, April 30, 2018, take the time and make the effort to help revitalize the ALR, and support a strong farming community in B.C.”
MARCH 19 ORIGINAL STORY – The public engagement portion of the Revitalization of the Agricultural Land Reserve and the Agricultural Land Commission has reached the halfway point, with more than 7, 510 visits to the engagement website, and stakeholder meetings held in nine communities throughout British Columbia.
The committee will use the input it receives during the engagement process to develop recommendations for the provincial government’s consideration. The recommendations may include changes to the current legislative, regulatory, and administrative framework to revitalize the ALR and the ALC. Any legislative changes that support the revitalization of the commission and the reserve are targeted for late 2018 or early 2019.
The ALC is an independent administrative tribunal dedicated to preserving agricultural land and encouraging farming in British Columbia. The ALR is a provincial zone in which agriculture is recognized as the priority use, farming is encouraged and non-agricultural uses are restricted.
The survey focuses on collecting British Columbians opinions and views on these common themes:
- A defensible and defended ALR
- ALR resilience
- Stable governance
- Efficacy of zones 1 and 2
- Interpretation and implementation of the Act and regulation
- Food security and B.C.’s agricultural contribution
- Residential uses in the ALR
- Farm processing and sales in the ALR
- Unauthorized uses
- Non-Farm uses and resource extraction in the ALR
Other ideas to support revitalization are also welcome.
The Advisory Committee will provide a final report to the Minister in fall 2018.
Submit your ideas by April 30, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.
