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One-size-fits-all approach to ALC unrealistic: Letnick
Amendments to the Agricultural Land Commission Act (Bill 24) will reflect feedback from British Columbians but a one-size-fits-all approach to protecting agricultural land is not reflective of reality in the province, stated Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick May 6.
“Today I am introducing amendments to Bill 24, which take into account the written feedback of British Columbians and following input gained from meetings with leaders in B.C.’s agricultural sector. The comments expressed are as diverse as the province itself and have been very useful in my deliberations,” Letnick began.
“The amendments allow the ALC chair or regional panel to refer applications to the ALC’s executive committee, if the chair determines that a decision could have substantial impact on the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). The executive committee consists of the chair and the six vice chairs, one from each region,” he said.
Review boards will have more to work with and consider moving forward, Letnick suggested.
“Criteria will be clearly defined in regulation and could include, for example, applications with inter-regional significance, major land or large infrastructure considerations, new types of applications that have not been considered before or when the local panel determines it is best heard by the provincial committee,” he said, adding, “Bill 24 also is being amended to clearly outline, in priority order, the criteria the commission must consider in all land-use decisions in zone 2 (North, Interior and Kootenay).
“This priority list will begin with whether the ALC considers the proposal to meet with the purposes of the commission, namely the preservation of agricultural land, encouraging farming and enabling farm use on agricultural land. All other factors would follow in descending order of priority. This change is intended to confirm the ALC’s priority remains preserving farming and ensuring panels make decisions in the best interests of agriculture.”
Amendments to the ALC must reflect British Columbia’s diversity, Letnick continued.
“B.C. is a large, diverse province with different agricultural practices, different population and development pressures and different social and cultural realities in our different regions. A one-size-fits-all approach to regulating farmland does not reflect this reality,” he said.
“While it is very difficult to reach complete consensus, I want to thank British Columbians for conveying their thoughts and vision to me. I believe these changes improve the existing act, maintain the preservation of agricultural land as the number one priority, and continue to support farmers and the growth of the agricultural sector as was always intended.
“British Columbians want the commission to continue making independent decisions, with preservation of farmland as its number one priority. These amendments to Bill 24 ensure those views are clearly written in law,” Letnick concluded.
Region still waiting on response
Meanwhile, the Regional District of East Kootenay May 2 voted to re-send a letter to the Premier, Minister of Agriculture and Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for the Core Review, originally sent in February, requesting clarification of what is being contemplated with respect to the future of the ALR and ALC; an update on the status of the ALR boundary review in the East Kootenay; and that the province consult local government on any changes contemplated to the ALR or ALC.
Electoral Area G Director Gerry Wilkie pressed the RDEK board to re-send the letter, noting there has been no acknowledgement yet.
“To me it is just not appropriate at all. I really think the government has to be taken into account,” Wilkie said.
Electoral Area A Director Mike Sosnowski argued the board should be patient. “The new minister is still going to do consultation,” he said.
However, District of Invermere Mayor Gerry Taft pointed out that Minister Bennett followed Letnick’s declaration that further public consultation will be held on the ALC amendments by stating, “it’ll be implemented no matter what the consultation.”
As a result, Taft suggested, further consultation with the regional board could be “meaningless if they’ve made up their minds.”
Sosnowski, Village of Radium Hot Springs Mayor Dee Conklin and District of Elkford Mayor Dean McKerracher opposed re-sending the letter.
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
