BC Food Systems Network Statement on the Passage of Bill 24

With the passage of Bill 24 at the end of the Spring legislative session, the BC Food Systems Network reaffirms its commitment to defending and advocating for food security and a sustainable homegrown agriculture sector in BC.

“We are, of course, deeply disappointed in the passage of Bill 24 and this closure to the huge outcry from the BC public to protect farmland in our province,” states Abra Brynne, BC Food Systems Co-chair.

“The desired public consultation was a non-starter with the government, despite high numbers of engaged and active citizens on this matter. Further, the amendments to the Bill from the Minister were inadequate to address the substantive impacts that the legislature could impose upon the security and viability for agriculture in the province.”

Now passed, Bill 24 will split the Agricultural Land Reserve into two zones and will devolve oversight of the ALR to six regional panels. Farmland advocates fear changes from Bill 24 will increase the price of farmland for young farmers and will also increase the removal of viable farmland for commercial, industrial and real estate development. This would result in reduced capacity for provincial food security in the face of climate change, as well as increased reliance of imported food, concerns over safe and sustainable agricultural practices in other jurisdictions, and increased food prices due to rising transportation costs.

“The ALR has earned broad public support over 40 years. Cannibalizing the ALR – with two zones and six regional panels - is no way to improve it,” says Brynne. “The lack of appropriate consultation such as we had, for example, with the Water Act, completely calls into question the legitimacy of this Bill.”

Adds Co-Chair Brent Mansfield, “Despite the passage of Bill 24, we will continue to work on behalf of BC food systems, on behalf of agriculture, ranchers, farmers and farmers markets, on behalf of grassroots farmers associations and the chefs and food lovers and locavores who know it matters that we protect BC’s farmland, that we support our BC grown food sector. Our commitment is for the long term and will outlast any single 4 year government with a short term agenda to exploit protected farmland.”

The BC Food Systems Network includes thousands of members in over 20 organizations representing farmers, food producers, health promoters, and community food organizations around British Columbia who are concerned with farming and food security in the province.

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Like forests and water, our foodlands are a public trust. The Agricultural Land Reserve, which protects farmland, and the Agricultural Land Commission, which administers the ALR, along with farmers and ranchers, are essential to BC’s food security.

On March 27th, the BC Government introduced Bill 24, proposing to divide the ALR into 2 zones, with the aim of opening “Zone 2″ in the North and Interior of BC to non-agricultural development. You can view the BC Government announcement here and see Bill 24 here.

In response, BCFSN has provided a full analysis of Bill 24 to all MLA’s, municipal and regional governments. You can also see our related media releases here.

What are you political representatives doing? You can read the Hansard April 7 2014 to see what is being discussed.

 

You can also follow ALR updates on Facebook (ALR Watch https://www.facebook.com/alrwatch) or Twitter (@ALRWatch https://twitter.com/ALRwatch).

 

 

Why is this a concern right now?

It’s pretty simple. BC’s farmland is scarce, less than 5% of the provincial land base. In an age when we must grow as much food as we can locally, preservation of farmland is crucial. In an emergency that cut off our province, we could be in trouble very fast. We must ensure that we protect our farm base and support the farmers and ranchers who grow our food. This is basic food security.

Local governments may be unwilling or unable to protect our agricultural lands ALR, so we need a province-wide strategy: the ALR, a zoning tool based on soil and climatic potential, with an independent quasi-judicial organization, the ALC, to administer and protect the ALR lands. The ALR was established in BC in 1973. In the ensuing 40 years it has become known in North America and around the world as a forward-thinking and effective planning tool. It is the envy of policymakers in many other jurisdictions.

As citizens, we must ensure our farmland, farmers and ranchers are protected and supported.

View our ALR info brochure here

 

Information materials re: ALR and ALC

• ALC home page, with list of resource material
• Short ALR History by Gary Runka
• Map of the ALR
• 2 Nov 2013 video, ALC Chair addresses BC Institute of Agrologists
• Presentation to Site C Project hearing by Joan Sawicki
• Presentation to Site C Project hearing by Wendy Holm

BCFSN materials

• 8 Nov 2013 General information on ALR and ALC in light of current threats 2013-11-08 BCFSN media backgrounder re ALR and ALC
• Nov 2013 Discussion paper regarding Fraser Institute’s critique of the ALR
• 14 reasons why food security is important

News media

• 7 Nov 2013 story about the Province’s plan to dismantle the ALR by Mark Hume in Globe and Mail, showing leaked government documents
• February 2014 article by Kathleen Gibson published in Country Life in BC, BC’s farm newspaper
• For a roundup of media stories on the ALR and ALC, visit the ALR Watch Facebook page
• BCFSN Media Releases

Local and regional government involvement

• Update for Local Governments February 2014

BCFSN materials

• BCFSN action alert on ALR and Core Review for local government sent to local and regional governments

BCFSN letters and presentations to the Province

• 5 February 2014 ALR briefing for MLAs
• 4 Nov 2013 letter to Premier and Ministers BCFSN to Premier and Ministers 4Nov13
• 2 Oct 2013 letter to Premier BCFSN Premier Clark 2Oct13
• 12 Sep 2013 letter to Ministers Pimm and Bennett BCFSN_Pimm-Bennett_sept13
• 16 Oct 2013 written brief to Finance and Government Services Committee of the Legislature 2013-10-16 BCFSN to FGS Cttee
• 26 Sep 2013 presentation to Finance and Government Services Committee of the Legislature, Hansard (presentation starts at 0950)