By Brian Lawrence
A new BC legislation that was introduced on Monday could ensure B.C.’s agricultural land maintains its intended use.
“The old government let wealthy speculators drive the price of farmland out of reach for young farmers and allowed some of our most valuable agricultural land to be damaged,” said Agriculture Minister Lana Popham. “We are protecting farmland in B.C. to ensure land is available now and for future generations of farmers, so people in British Columbia have a safe, secure supply of locally grown food on their tables for years to come.”
If passed, Bill 52, the agricultural land commission amendment act, would strengthen protections for B.C.’s Agricultural Land Reserve, which was established in 1973 to protect land with prime agricultural conditions for farming and ranching. It currently protects about 4.6 million hectares of land in B.C and is administered by the Agricultural Land Commission, an independent tribunal.
The proposed legislation makes three key changes:
•Restore the integrity of the ALR by reinstating one zone — it was split into two zones in 2014 — for all ALR land in B.C., with all ALR land benefitting from protections;
•Address mega-mansions and speculation in the ALR by limiting new house sizes to less than 500 square metres (5,400 square feet), except through application to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) in cases where it would support farming; and requiring an ALC approval of any additional residences in the ALR to curb non-farm development; and,
•Crackdown, through increased penalties, on the dumping of construction debris, toxic waste and other fill in the ALR that can irreparably damage arable soil on farmland.
The legislative changes will help stop practices that contaminate farmland and make farms unaffordable for new farmers and threaten the short-term and long-term viability of the ALR. One example is that of Richmond’s “mega-mansions”, which increased 13.3 percent between 2011 and 2016, significantly inflating the price of farmland.
The legislation is also designed to protect the province’s farmland so British Columbians can access locally grown food, and communities and local economies can prosper through farming, ranching and agriculture businesses, such as B.C.’s growing food-processing sector.
“The Creston Valley has some of the richest farmland in the province and this will ensure that farmland is used for farming and not dumping of construction waste,” said Michelle Mungall MLA for the Nelson-Creston riding.
“I always tell people some of the greatest fruits and vegetables come from the Creston Valley and positive changes are happening which will make Creston Valley farmers happy to see”
The bill is part of the government’s ongoing commitment to revitalize the ALR and the ALC. The new legislation will advance several recommendations in the independent report released by the Minister of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee.
