ALC opposes province’s rule change

The Agricultural Land Commission has come out swinging against the province’s proposal to eliminate a rule requiring processors locating in the Agricultural Land Reserve source at least half their ingredients from BC growers.

“The proposal represents a significant policy shift that has not been supported by evidence demonstrating the need for change or showing that the proposed change would increase agricultural production, improve farm viability, or enhance food security within British Columbia,” ALC chair Jennifer Dyson writes in an August 21 letter to BC agriculture minister Lana Popham.

Dyson notes that by creating a new industrial-use entitlement on protected farmland, despite being limited to Class 4-7 soils, the proposal is fundamentally opposed to encouraging primary agricultural production.

“The Commission is alarmed not only with the immediate impact of the proposal, but also with its cumulative effect on the agricultural land base,” Dyson writes, noting that staff within Popham’s ministry have noted the potential for a broad range of production on lower class soils.

“The proposal would … contribute to the ongoing reduction of land available for primary agricultural production,” she states, without explaining how the proposed processing uses will strengthen ties with producers.

“The Commission believes the fundamental policy question remains unanswered by this proposal: How does allowing facilities that may source up to 95 percent of their inputs from outside British Columbia and Canada materially help British Columbia farmers grow more food?”

The BC Agriculture Council and other farm organizations have also expressed concern about the proposed change. BCAC plans to make its official position known prior to the September 18 deadline for feedback.

Popham, for her part, sees opportunities for the rule change to give hazelnut growers a market by allowing, say, a chocolate factory to set up within the ALR.

“[Hazelnuts] wouldn’t be their main ingredient – but they would use BC dairy, they would use BC hazelnuts,” she said. “It literally could take all the hazelnuts that they grow.”

She acknowledged that 5% isn’t a high bar to meet, but she welcomes feedback.

“Look at the idea, come up with your opinion, then prove it to me,” she says.

Popham invites submissions through September 18 at AF.Minister@gov.bc.ca.

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