VICTORIA — B.C.’s agriculture minister says he’s willing to reconsider legislation that would change the Agricultural Land Reserve, but wants to hear from all British Columbians before he makes up his mind.
Norm Letnick emerged from a seven-hour meeting with farmers and ranchers in Abbotsford on Wednesday to say he needs to hear from the rest of the province before deciding whether to change or withdraw from the legislature the proposed legislation that would alter the ALR.
“The opportunity is everything from amending the bill to leaving it alone to removing the bill,” Letnick said in an interview. “I haven’t landed on any particular recommendation yet, because I’m not finished my consultation process.”
Letnick said he’s asked ministry staff to organize a B.C.-wide consultation, which could take the form of a phone, Twitter or Web-based town hall meeting.
Core Review Minister Bill Bennett crafted the bill to change the ALR in late March, saying it was necessary to modernize and improve the management of protected farmland in the province, as well as the Agricultural Land Commission that oversees that land.
The changes include splitting the ALR into two administrative zones, which would relax the rules for development of protected farmland in the province’s North and Interior.
It would also make it easier for farmers to use land that isn’t suitable for agriculture for some other purpose, with the social and economic value of proposed projects given weight by the Agricultural Land Commission when reviewing development proposals.
Letnick inherited the file, along with the controversy, when he was named agriculture minister on April 11.
The organization representing more than 14,000 B.C. farmers and ranchers, the B.C. Agriculture Council, withdrew its support for the changes this month, saying the overhaul would leave northern farmland at risk of development for resource projects.
But other groups have suggested the changes are necessary because they’ll allow aging farmers more opportunity to launch money-generating economic projects on their land, which will ultimately allow them to stay on their farms longer.
Letnick said he’s heard arguments from both supporters and opponents, and has personally read every email sent to his ministry on the subject.
B.C. Agriculture Council chairman Stan Vander Waal said he’s pleased to hear Letnick will conduct provincewide consultation.
“That’s a great idea, because what it does is involve all British Columbians in the future of agriculture,” he said.
Farmers and ranchers were “really pleased with how the meeting went” with Letnick, he said, and while they still oppose the bill in its current form they are happy to see the minister at least considering options.
“There’s definitely a path forward,” said Vander Waal.
After the consultation, Letnick said he’ll make recommendations to his B.C. Liberal caucus on what to do and then talk to farmers again.
