Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson was met by several local protesters in front of Kocomo’s Coffee Shop on Thursday.The protesters, who are hoping to convince Larson to vote no on Bill 24, which proposes several changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), help up signs stating ‘Hands off the ALR’ and ‘Save the ALR.’Co-organizer and local farmer Colleen Ross presented Larson with fresh spinach which Ross had harvested that morning.“I’m a farmer,” she told the Gazette. “I’m here with other farmers and concerned citizens. I’m also a member of the Ag Society (Grand Forks Boundary Regional Agriculture Society) and a representative of many other groups.”Ross said she had earlier heard that Larson was going to be in Grand Forks meeting with select members of the Ag Society and decided to organize the protest.“It wasn’t open to the public so I thought, while, I wrote her a letter and she didn’t respond, so I’ll come and see if I can talk to her and let her know that were here to welcome her and to let her know that we are paying attention. We want to thank her for doing the right thing in anticipation of doing the right thing – which is to vote against Bill 24.”Ross said the bill would take control of the ALR from the Agriculture Land Commission (ALC) and put it in the hands of mining and gas (government ministry) which would open the land up for mineral extraction or other economic development opportunities.“It means that land would no longer be protected,” she said. “If I want to farm – the land beside me, which is also ALR, whoever owns it could put in a subdivision or build storage units or mine it or put in a golf course. We really need to protect our land. We need to grow food but we also need to protect the land around farms.”

Grand Forks Gazette