Opposition agriculture critic Lana Popham introduced a private member’s bill Monday to restore the Agricultural Land Reserve to a single zone and bring back the Buy B.C. program.
Under the B.C. Local Food Act, a legislative committee would select the chair and other members of the Agricultural Land Commission and work with the agriculture minister on a plan to boost agriculture production, said Popham, MLA for Saanich South.
Popham accused the Liberals of undermining agriculture by splitting the land reserve into two zones and unilaterally moving to replace the commission’s chairman.
The Buy B.C. program was created by the NDP in 1990s to promote the province’s produce and wines. It was cancelled by the Liberals in 2001.
Private member’s bills rarely earn government support to become law.
