BC Gov Looking For Public’s Input On The Agricultural Land Reserve

In the coming months the BC government will be looking to the public for help to shape revitalization of the Agricultural Land Reserve(ALR).

Consultations will be held in different regions, including Prince George, on how the government can better the 4.6 million hectares of provincially protected farmland.

Currently the province is split into two agriculture zones, something Agriculture Minister Lana Popham says could change.

“I’ve heard loud and clear in my time as agriculture critic, now minister, that people don’t like having two different zones for ALR. It’s a provincial land use tool that was basically put into place in the 1970’s considering the ALR as a provincial land body. So I can see there will be a strong voice directing us to move back to one zone.”

The Minister has created a nine-member advisory committee made up of Jennifer Dyson, Vicki Huntington, Chief Bryon Louis, Lenore Newman, Chris Kloot, Shaundehl Runka, Irmi Critcher, Arzeena Hamir, and Brian Underhill who all have diverse agriculture knowledge to provide advice, policy guidance, and recommendations on how to revitalize the farmland.

The review and consultation will help tackle challenges different regions have been faced with when it comes to farmland.

“In the Prince George area we saw farmland being used for tree planting and carbon offsetting, which does not really enhance agricultural capability in that area. So there are all these things we expect to hear from the public.”

The minister added she hopes this review will make AGL stronger and takes away the speculative nature that’s driving the cost of farmland up.

Beginning in early 2018, the committee will:

* Share a consultation paper to seek opinions and feedback on revitalizing the ALR and ALC;

* Host regional meetings to hear opinions and feedback directly from the local farming and ranching communities in Abbotsford, Cranbrook, Fort St. John, Kelowna, Kamloops, Nanaimo and Prince George; and

* Open an online consultation process to seek public opinion.

The consultation for Prince George is expected to start sometime between March and May.