BCFGA Convention Need for secure water supply stressed By Bryden Winsby I


f the province can ensure that land is reserved for agriculture, should it not also ensure that water is reserved for agriculture? The answer to that question is


a definite yes, according to a number of farmorganizations, including the B.C. FruitGrowers’ Association. Delegates to the BCFGA’s 125th annualmeeting in


February unanimously endorsed a pair of resolutions calling on the provincial government tomake sure provision ofwater for agriculture during times of drought is a priority under the proposed newWater Act and that the supply ofwater be defined as an essential service by the LaborRelations Board. In the first instance, a resolution by the


BCFGA’s south district points out that agriculture requires “an adequate, affordable and secure source ofwater,”whichmust be recognized as legislation governing the resource ismodernized. The second resolution says the essential


service designation is needed because disruption of awater purveyor’s operation by a labor dispute could stop thewater supply. The votes came on the heels of a report presented by


DeniseMacDonald, chair of the association’swater and environment committee. She said the concept of an AgricultureWaterReserve


(AWR) has been developed in response to concerns of irrigators in the province, and it’s hoped this could be incorporated into the newWater Act. The BCFGA has supported efforts by the B.C. Agriculture


Council (BCAC)WaterWorkingGroup to provide input on the newlegislation,which is supposed to be introduced this spring. The BCAC has asked to reviewa draft beforehand. “An AWRis a noble concept,”MacDonald said in her report, but implementation of the reservewill determine if access to assured, affordable and adequatewater for long- termproduction of food for B.C. is realized. “Just as the Agricultural Land


Reservewas a prudent and progressive piece of legislation back in 1974, implementation of the original intention is not always an easy road for government. “The large range of interests


engaged inwater issuesmakes it difficult for government to mandate safeguards.”


Existence of the ALRhelpsmove the concept of awater


reserve forward,MacDonald said, but she added that regulationsmeant to protectwater or the environment today “may be downgraded to a set of guidelineswith no oversight provided tomorrow.”


Bylaw revisions stay on back burner T


By Bryden Winsby


he B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association executive committee has decided to put a


couple of controversial bylaw changes on hold indefinitely. Member services committee chair


Peter Simonsen told attendees at February’s BCFGA annual convention the decision came in the wake of a special generalmeeting in November to discuss seven recommendations stemming fromthe committee’s review of BCFGA bylaws last summer. The specialmeeting was held so


any changes could be implemented in time for the association’s regional meetings and the convention. Growers who attended the


November gathering voted to table a recommendation to redefine


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‘members’ so a son, daughter or spousemay vote for the farm. They also tabled setting the number of convention delegates at 24 and defeated a recommendation that executive terms be changed to two years instead of one, with amaximum of two terms in a position. Recommendations that did get


passed: • Permit the annual convention to be held in January or February (January has been the traditional month).


• No personmay havemore than one vote.


• Reduce the number of association regions fromfour to two (north and south). A region now covers the same area as a district council.


• Change election procedures so that three executivemembers are


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2014


elected for each region at the same time at the convention.


Simonsen said in his report to the


convention that although no action will be taken on the tabled items”for the foreseeable future,” the executive wants to conduct amembership survey. Its purpose would be to help the


BCFGA improve its services, decide which services growers needmost and also show trends fromearlier surveys that will help assess how the industry is changing. “While we do not expect any


surprises froma survey, it is helpful to confirmour plans and tomodify our plans with direct grower input.” Simonsen said other activities last


year took priority over a survey, but it could happen this year.


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