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 focus on this valley, it all happened because … the premier, minister, our deputy minister were all involved,” ALC operation director Avtar Sundher said as ALC compliance officer Amanda McRae looked on. “We need to rectify this; people may get hurt so it was a combination of those that allowed us to release resources from other parts of the province and bring them here. And we’re going to continue.”

The meeting attracted about 50 people, including landowners, farmers, a staff member of Leq’á:mel First Nation and representatives of Sran Trucking, which has engaged in the dumping.

Close to 40 stop-work orders have been issued against properties in the Hatzic Valley alone over the past two years as the province has investigated complaints from neighbours. Among the most recent was a May 1 order at 11185 Farms Road.

While the ALC hasn’t tested the material being dumped, Sundher said reports indicate some of the material reeks of petrochemicals while other loads include construction waste.

Contaminated fill would fall under the purview of the Ministry of the Environment, which introduced new regulations in March 2023 that sought to increase regulation of contaminated soil.

Sundher said at the time that the new rules would reduce the risk to agricultural land, a view he stands by.

However, unauthorized dumping – by its nature – occurs outside the law, hence the involvement of enforcement staff, who have informed recipients of the stop work orders that charges may follow.

“I don’t have a crystal ball how far it will continue,” Sundher said of the discussions being had with Crown counsel regarding charges, but noted, “we’ve been given the reins to control as much as we can through the resources we have.”