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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • NOVEMBER 2016


Minister’s comment doesn’t sit well with readers Misplaced priorities


Ottawa misled by port


Re: Port development trumps BC agriculture (October 2016)


Letters


I was extremely disheartened to read the federal minister of agriculture’s comments.


Sadly, the minister has prioritized the industrialization of the Fraser River delta over the protection of Canada’s most productive agricultural land. One has to wonder where the minister thinks future farm exports will come from if we continue to pave over local topsoil.


In my riding of Delta South, we know these pressures all too well. The Port of Vancouver’s position that local agriculture is “almost meaningless” and that the port has “supremacy” over the farmland protection laws of our province has long been cause for concern.


The minister’s comments make our continuing fight to protect 1,500 acres of Delta farmland from industrialization by the port completely meaningless. Vicki Huntington MLA Delta South


It is alarming that the new Liberal government of Canada is being completely misled by the Port of Vancouver. It is difficult to believe the statement by the federal Minister of Agriculture, Lawrence MacAulay, in reference to BC agricultural land protected by the provincial Agricultural Land Reserve: “Lower Mainland farmland could be sacrificed to ensure agri-food exports can move to market quickly and efficiently.” Canada wants to increase export- ready agri-food exports to China and other Asian countries. It is ironic that the Port of Vancouver claims it needs to industrialize Canada’s best farmland in order to export agricultural products.


There is no evidence to support the claim that we need to industrialize farmland. This is a ploy by the Port of Vancouver to expand its real estate holdings, which will enrich the Crown corporation and associates. It has nothing to do with sensible port business.


Exporting agricultural products has been, and continues to be, important to the Canadian economy. It can continue without using precious BC farmland.


The largest increase in agricultural exports is from wheat and other grains which are being accommodated by a


massive new grain terminal in North Vancouver.


In terms of processed foods, which were stressed in the article, Vancouver exported 20% more tonnage in 2010 than in 2015.


Fraser Surrey Docks is a wonderful terminal with a large stretch of industrial land which is ideal for the export of specialty crops and processed foods. The current plans for funneling dirty US thermal coal through this great site are uneconomical and a waste of our precious port lands.


The prime minister and federal ministers of agriculture, transport, natural resources, environment, fisheries and trade don’t seem to be aware that they are being duped by the Port of Vancouver. Isn’t it time to stop listening to paid lobbyists and old guard civil servants and advisors? Isn’t it time to listen to public concerns about protecting the “ecosystems of the Fraser River delta, which interactively support the world’s best salmon river, Canada’s rich farmland and Canada’s most important bird area for shorebirds, waterfowl and birds of prey?


Susan Jones Delta


Self-interest wins Peter Mitham’s article in the


October issue regarding export growth contains astonishing statements: [Port authority president and CEO Robin] Silvester believes local agriculture is “almost meaningless” when it comes to local food security, which, coupled with [Silvester’s] arrogant pronouncement that the Port authority has “supremacy” over the Agricultural Land Reserve, is an outrageous expression of self-interest, ignorance of the potential of our local growers, and a frightening abdication of our need to take more control of our local food supply and agricultural sector.


[Silvester’s] view is “screw local production, access to quality food products, food security,” and just ship it all away and be utterly dependent on fragile import sources.


Port authority and its self-interested agenda wins in this scenario; future generations of Canadians lose.


Mark Pigott Kelowna


Whoops!


The toll-free number for BC Cattlemens that appeared in our “New guide simplifies well licencing” story on page 9 of the October edition was incorrect. The correct number is 1-877-688-2333. We apologize for the error.


“We know the work we put in to grow safe, healthy food. We’re


the ones who should tell our story.”


Sam Bourgeois, Agvocate Apple Producer


Learn more at AgMoreThanEver.ca. Be somebody who does something.


Be an agvocate.


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