The closing days of the old year heralded a host of appointments to the Agricultural Land Commission.
Commissioners Erin Carlson (Summerland), Jolleen Dick (Port Alberni), Wayne Harris (Creston) and Danna O’Donnell completed terms on December 19.
A ministerial order signed by agriculture minister Lana Popham on December 16 reappointed Carlson and Harris for three-year terms while O’Donnell was appointed for a two-year term.
Dick was replaced by fellow Vancouver Island farmer Jan Slomp (Courtenay), who was appointed for a two-year term ending December 19, 2026.
Commissioners Robert Haywood-Farmer (Savona) and Brenda Schoepp (Victoria) completed their terms on New Year’s Day, and a second ministerial order reappointed Schoepp for a two-year term ending January 1, 2027, while Haywood-Farmer will serve three years until January 1, 2028.
Keeping ahead of the curve, Popham extended the term of Andrew Adams (Prince George) through December 1, 2026, while Joseph Deuling (Lumby) was appointed for a three year-term ending December 31, 2027.
Sitting commissioner Holger Schwichtenberg (Agassiz), whose term was set to expire in March will now serve an additional four years through March 12, 2029.
Commissioner Karen McKean will serve an additional three years, being reappointed through April 30, 2028.
The latest appointments follow Popham’s order on November 25 rescinding the appointment of Lynn Lashuk (Lake Country). Lashuk, along with Chad Stump of the ?Esdilagh First Nation, were appointed to two-year terms with the commission beginning November 1 by Popham’s predecessor Pam Alexis.
November 1 also saw Jeff McCallum of Nanaimo take his seat as a commissioner for a two-year term following an August 1 order by Alexis.
Pickers’ piece rates increase