This is what we’ve been waiting for: the final committee report to the Minister of Agriculture. See link in comments for full report.
Thoughts?
’Besieged’ B.C. farmland needs protection from oil and gas sector: report
vancouversun.com
VICTORIA — An independent report on agricultural revitalization in British Columbia says it is time to fix the “imbalance” between oil and gas development and agriculture in the p…Local Richmond farmer showing support for Bill 15. Thank you Miles Smart from Cherry Lane Farms. #farmers4bill15 Lana Popham
Lana Popham
Watch this powerful clip from Minister Jinny Sims!
She is standing up for our farmers and farmland, and responding to the outrageous and offensive comments from the MLA for Abbotsford-West, Mike de Jong. Comparing support for our farmers to some of the darkest chapters in Canadian history trivializes hard fought human rights battles.
Unfortunately this is just one of the ways BC Liberals are misrepresenting my work to support farmers and protect farmland.
Details on Bill 15 here - bit.ly/2GjaWFd
The longer version of Minister Sims response is here - bit.ly/2G5NPNl
Read the full transcript of this ongoing debate - bit.ly/2PeNADT
Show your selfie! #isupportbill15Organic farmer Nicholas Forstbauer loves the ALR! #farmers4Bill15 #isupportBill15 #ALR #BCpoli
Please sharethis important post.I was pleased to stand in the Legislature today and move second reading for Bill 15!
One of my most important mandate letter commitments was to revitalize the ALR and the ALC. This commitment is so important because we have a lot to be proud of in BC. we have one of the most diverse agriculture sectors in Canada with 17,500 farms producing over 200 agricultural products, producing $14.2 billion annually to drive prosperity across BC.
But to support farmers, we need to protect farmland. Farmers need access to affordable and productive agricultural land to be successful, provide us with the food we count on for our tables and create good jobs for people in their communities.
Over 40 years ago, the government of the day had the foresight to identify our province’s most valuable and viable agricultural land, and to protect it within the Agricultural Land Reserve. This reserve is critically important because of how little farmland we have. In BC only a very small part of the land-base is arable, and less than one percent is rated as class one (ie., having the ability to support intensive cultivation of a wide variety of crops.) Protecting the ALR is critical so that farmers and ranchers can thrive today, and in the future – and so that we can have a reliable source of food produced within our province for generations to come.
The amendments proposed in Bill 15 draw on the work of the BC Minister of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee for Revitalizing the Agricultural Land Reserve and the Agricultural Land Commission. This Committee led a comprehensive engagement process, travelling to nine communities to meet with local governments, the agriculture sector and other key stakeholders, and received about 2,600 written and online submissions. The engagement showed overwhelmingly that British Columbians and key agricultural stakeholders value the ALR and care about preserving it for agriculture use now and for future generations.
And we listened to what BCers told us.
The first phase of amendments to the Agricultural Land Commission Act were brought to this House through Bill 52 in the fall, and came into law a few weeks ago on February 22. Bill 52 addresses many issues that were contributing to an erosion of our precious land base. Amendments included:
o Implementing a maximum house size of 500M2 in the ALR to curb the proliferation of mega homes and land speculation, but still ensuring that growing farming families that need a larger house to support their farming operations have a path forward at the ALC with local government support to build a larger home;
o Grandfathering in landowners with all authorizations in place when the bill came into force (February 22, 2019) if substantial construction is underway by November 5, 2019;
o Requiring ALC approval of an additional residence on a parcel in the ALR, to limit non-farm use and development;
o Introducing clear rules to prevent construction and demolition waste and other harmful materials from being dumped onto productive ALR soil as fill with clear oversight by the ALC;
o Reuniting the ALR as one cohesive zone, making it clear that all ALR land has equal protection; and
o Strengthening the ALC’s compliance and enforcement powers, including adding new offences for illegal dumping with substantial penalties.
Bill 15 builds on the comprehensive and significant changes accomplished through Bill 52 through five key changes:
• The first is to strengthen the independence of the commission by replacing the current ALC governance model of an Executive Committee and six regional panels with one commission with regional representation by requiring membership from all six administrative regions.
• The second change will provide the Chair of the commission with more flexibility to organize its members into a decision-making panel on applications by topic, technical expertise or by administrative region.
• Thirdly, this Bill creates new decision-making criteria that prioritizes the protection and enhancement of the size, integrity and continuity of the land base when the commission is considering exercising any power or performing a duty under the Agricultural Land Commission Act.
• Fourthly, we are adding more compliance and enforcement capacity and tools, including a new offence for landowners who do not produce records to the Agricultural Land Commission when ordered.
• And finally, the new Bill will require that exclusion applications be submitted to the commission by local governments, First Nations governments or the Province.
Together these five changes will help give the Agricultural Land Commission the tools they need to support their work to protect farmland and support farmers. Our government is committed to supporting BC’s incredible agricultural sector, so it can continue to grow and prosper, and provide our ranchers and farmers with good jobs in communities across the province.
"A 2014 survey found that 95% of British Columbians support the Agricultural Land Reserve, so it appears that the BC government is on the right side of public opinion with these amendments. It is less clear what the BC Liberals have to gain with their characterization of the Bill as an assault on farmers and rural communities."
Do you stand with the government on further protections for the ALR? If so, please share this important post. #isupportbill15
Bill 15 – Important protection for agricultural land or an assault on farmers?
wcel.org
Bill 15, the Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act 2019, currently being debated in the BC Legislature, has revealed deep-seated divisions between the governing BC NDP and the opposition BC Liberals over the protection of agricultural lands in the province.It seems like there is still a lot of misinformation about Bill 15. Glad to see this letter to the editor. Please share to show you support Bill 15. #isupportbill15
Letters, April 4: Farm-land rule change needed, says former NDP cabinet minister
vancouversun.com
Letters to the editor, April 4“This is not about property rights. It is about reducing speculation on agricultural land. As long as the ‘door is open’ to an individual or company to make an application to remove agricultural land from the ALR, speculation on these lands will continue.”
NDP Changes Will Better Protect Agricultural Land Reserve, Says Former Commission Chair | The Tyee
thetyee.ca
BC Liberal leader says amendments ‘trample on’ farmer rights.Will you support Liberal MLAs who continue to work against the protection of the ALR?
Please like and share this post to reinforce the message that the ALR is top of mind for British Columbians.Amazing to find the BC Liberals promising to repeal Bill 52 which restricts the building of mansions on farmland while allowing farmers who need large houses for farming to get a variance. One would think the Richmond Liberal MLAs got the message in the recent municipal election that Richmond voters are fed up with farms being sold to foreign speculators who build mansions and take the farms out of production.
With the exception of Linda Reid who didn't vote, the Richmond Liberal MLAs voted against Bill 52. Jas Johal has gone further to become a leading vocal opponent. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Breaking...
twitter.com
“🤦♂️Intro'd at #BCLeg today, the delegation from the B.C. Farmland Owners Association (which began as the Richmond Farmland Owners Association). It includes Dale Badh, a real estate agent involved in Richmond's proliferation of farmland mansions. #bcpoli #vanRE #ALR”Ag minister defends agricultural land commission amendments - BC Local News
bclocalnews.com
'People around the globe understand the need to be concerned about food security'Thoughts?
Belcarra couple and corporation sue City of Richmond over farmland mega-mansion row
richmond-news.com
A couple from Belcarra and a corporation are taking the City of Richmond to court over farmland building permits they say were unjustly cancelled prior to new, more restrictive, home size . . .Bill 15 – Important protection for agricultural land or an assault on farmers?
wcel.org
Bill 15, the Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act 2019, currently being debated in the BC Legislature, has revealed deep-seated divisions between the governing BC NDP and the opposition BC Liberals over the protection of agricultural lands in the province.PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE THIS PETITION.
Raymond Wong has started a petition calling on the Federal Government to do the following:
1. Launch a public inquiry into money laundering and corruption in regards to: (a) fentanyl trafficking; (b) the Greater Vancouver real estate market; (c) the banking system; (d) lawyers, notaries, accountants; (e) regulated casinos; (f) AGRICULTURAL LAND RESERVE SPECULATION (our emphasis with capitalization); (g) luxury vehicles;
2. Create a special task force to prosecute money laundering and corruption;
3. Close the bare trust loophole; and
4. Confiscate all properties and assets that were purchased with laundered money.
Please add your name to this petition:
petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-2073
petitions.ourcommons.ca
There is no obligation on the part of any Member of Parliament to authorize the publication of an e-petition. Neither the House of Commons nor any Member of Parliament authorizing the publication of a petition endorses the views or information contained in any e-petition posted on this website. More...Richmond farmhouse families receive reprieve
vancouversun.com
At least six farmers whose building permits were left in question by the new legislation will have the chance to proceed with their projects.The Climate Solution Right Under Our Feet
yesmagazine.org
The ideas behind regenerative farming are simple and ancient.The Apple Daily Taiwan reached out to Richmond FarmWatch to share how land speculation is affecting farmland in Taiwan. Here is the full story:
"Lai Qingsong pointed out that when the farmland becomes a commodity for investment, the land at the foot of the farmer becomes a carpet that can be taken away at any time. ..The farmer sees how much rice can be produced; but the people who speculate in the land see that "three months can change hands, and this one earns 1 million."
inv.appledaily.com.tw/farmland/
inv.appledaily.com.tw
20多年的土地炒作與掠奪，已全面延伸到農地。《蘋果》費時10個月調查，揭露政府放任農地「種」農舍、工廠的惡果，就是讓農夫曾經佇立的土地，變成令人望之卻步的鑽石田。Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen.
New Agricultural Land Reserve regulations now in effect | CBC News
cbc.ca
Legislation introduced in November is now in effect and includes the banning of mega- mansions and increased penalties for illegal dumping on the Agricultural Land Reserve.