Ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of temporary foreign farm workers have prompted a federal committee to recommend the creation of a national migrant workers commission. A report the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology released May 21 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program recommends the creation …
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Celebrated leader a force in BC wine sector
OLIVER – Since 2013, the Wine Growers BC Leadership Excellence Award has recognized those whose work in the fields of media, research, policy, regulation, education or advocacy have advanced the sector. This year, as the BC wine industry faces an existential threat from successive years of weather disasters, Severine Pinte, winemaker, viticulturist and managing partner …
Volunteers remain the backbone of successful fairs
PENTICTON – Some 40 delegates from across the province attended the BC Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions (BC Fairs) Learning Exchange in Penticton, April 14-16. “We changed the title from ‘conference’ to ‘learning exchange’ a couple of years ago because that is really the focus of our event,” says BC Fairs executive director Janine …
Premier boosts fill enforcement
Dumping on Lower Mainland farm properties has prompted action by the premier. Hatzic Valley residents who gathered for a community meeting at McConnell Creek hall on May 13 were told Premier David Eby has approved the deployment of additional Agricultural Land Commission staff to address dumping in the area and throughout the Fraser Valley. “The …
Mink appeals dismissed
A challenge of the province’s shutdown of the BC mink sector has failed. A decision dated May 7 in BC Supreme Court dismissed challenges five of the province’s mink farms filed in 2022 to the province’s decision in November 2021 to shut down their sector. The province, former agriculture minister Lana Popham, provincial health officer …
BC Veg expansion on hold
Concerns among northern BC growers over the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission’s expanded mandate has put the brakes on the expansion. BC Veg’s mandate changed January 1 to cover the entire province, not just the area below the 53rd parallel. BC Veg regulates the production, sale and distribution of 20 storage, greenhouse and processing crops. These …