6 Right to Farm review set


to conclude this fall Province avoids touchy moves ahead of election


by PETER MITHAM VICTORIA – A review of the


province’s right-to-farm legislation won’t complete until this fall, Country Life in BC has learned. Review of the legislation –


formally known as the BC Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act –began in July 2015. BC Ministry of Agriculture staff contacted the BC Agriculture Council at the time and arranged a meeting to discuss the review. Discussions with the four municipalities that must submit their bylaws affecting agriculture to the province for review followed, as well as a broader consultation. The province then intended to seek further input from industry. However, when Country


Life in BC contacted BC Agriculture Council executive director Reg Ens last August,


INCREASE CROP YIELDS


LASER LEVELLING LTD.


TRI-WAY FARMS


We service all of Southern BC


IMPROVED DRAINAGE


UNIFORM GERMINATION


UNIFORM IRRIGATION


FAST,


ACCURATE SURVEYING


CALL FOR AN ESTIMATE LARRY


604.209.5523 TROY


604.209.5524


ABBOTSFORD DUNCAN


KELOWNA


WEST KELOWNA NANAIMO


PARKSVILLE SAANICH


SALMON ARM


31852 Marshall Place 5410 Trans Canada Hwy. 103-1889 Springfield Road 2565 Main St., Hwy. 97 South 1-1277 Island Hwy. S 587 Alberni Hwy.


1970 Keating Cross Rd. 1771 - 10th Avenue S.W.


604.556.7477 250.748.8171 250.860.2346 250.768.8870 250.753.4221 250.248.3243 250.652.9188 250.832.8424


he was unaware of any progress on the file. Agriculture ministry staff confirmed that no decisions had yet been made, but said “the BC government is reviewing the information we received in our consultation with local governments.” A follow-up query with


ministry communications staff at the beginning of February drew the response that the review would complete this fall, following which the province would “seek feedback from local governments on the results of our legislative review and possible next steps.” Staff explained that


ministry consultations to date found that the legislation, passed in 1996, as well as its associated regulations, “are complicated and not always easily understood.” The legislation is largely


intact, having never been amended, something that could change following the review. “The ministry has been


reviewing the legislation and regulations to examine how it could be made clearer and to consider if and how the input and suggestions received during the consultation could be included into the framework,” ministry staff reported.


Waiting to complete


The review is just one long- standing project the ministry is waiting to complete till after the May 9 provincial


election.


Results of a wine industry plebiscite last summer, the fruit of a task group the province appointed in March 2015 to review the appellation system wineries use, have yet to be fully implemented. The province required the plebiscite on the task group’s recommendations and industry in turn expected plebiscite results to be implemented swiftly. But government has told


industry that won’t be happening till after the election. Similarly, while


environment minister Mary Polak told CBC at the end of January that the province was moving towards protecting a swathe of South Okanagan rangeland – a move controversial with many local ranchers and property owners – there has been no concrete action following a 60-day public consultation that wound up October 12, 2015.


The deferral of decisions on potentially controversial projects stands in stark contrast to the tide of good news flowing from the BC Ministry of Agriculture in recent weeks. The ministry’s most recent


press release as this issue of Country Life in BC went to press touted the good work the province’s Agricultural Land Commission had done with $1.1 million it received in last year’s provincial budget.


FILE PHOTO


Ten press releases covered funding for the “Grow Local” program designed to encouraged gardening, while another four releases highlighted Buy Local funding. Four more releases trumpeted the sector’s economic successes, which will undoubtedly benefit from the provincial investments in agricultural technology through SRCTec described in two releases. SPCA funding warranted two announcements. Carbon tax relief – a


measure that directly helps commercial farmers – accounted for just one of the ministry’s two dozen press releases in the first six weeks of 2017. Meanwhile, agriculture minister Norm Letnick


avoided an agricultural policy debate planned for the Pacific Agriculture Show in Abbotsford at the end of January. Speaking to producers at


the BC Agriculture Gala preceding the show, Letnick presented a raft of positive statistics regarding the industry and expressed his desire to continue serving as agriculture minister. Speaking informally to


Country Life in BC later that evening, Letnick said he prefers not to take election victories for granted. Based on the safe, well-


crafted communications his ministry is issuing, and the lack of decisions on key projects the government initiated two years ago, it’s probably the right attitude.


100% Canadian Owned and Operated


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MARCH 2017


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52