a revitalized legislative framework for the agricultural ... · a revitalized legislative framework...
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ARevitalizedLegislativeFrameworkfortheAgriculturalLandReserve
UBCMConventionClinicWednesday,September25,2019
JamesMack,ADM,BCMinistryofAgricultureKimGrout,CEO,AgriculturalLandCommission
Outline
• HighlightsoftheAgricultureSector• TheALRandtheALC• NewLegislativeandRegulatorychanges• NewandFutureengagementonALR
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• 200commoditiesand100speciesoffish
• Totalrevenues$14.2B• PrimaryAgriculture$3.2B
(23%)• Food&BeverageProcessing
$9.8B(69%)• PrimarySeafood$1.2B(8%)• BCexported$3.9billion
worthofagrifoodandseafoodproductsin2017.
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B.C.Agriculture,SeafoodandFoodandBeverageProcessing-2017
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B.C.FarmDistributionandSizesbyRegion
AgriculturalLandReserve(ALR)
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• Createdin1970’s• 4,613,612hectares(or~5%)oftheprovinciallandbase
• PrimarypurposeisforfarmingandranchinginB.C.
• Actionwastakenbecauseoflimitedagriculturallandandirreversibleconversiontourbanlanduses.
• Issueswestillstrugglewithtoday.
AgriculturalLandCommission(ALC)• IndependentadministrativetribunalundertheAgriculturalLandCommissionAct(Act)and
Regulations.Mandate:• topreservetheagriculturallandreserve;• toencouragefarmingoftheALRincollaborationwithothercommunitiesofinterest;• toencouragelocalgovernments,firstnations,thegovernmentanditsagentstoenableand
accommodatefarmuseoflandintheALRintheirplans,bylawsandpolicies.
• ABoardof16thathavepolicyandoperationaloversight;Sixregionalpanelsmakingapplicationdecisions;+anExecutiveCommitteecomprisedofregionalViceChairsandChairthatmakeprovinciallysignificantdecisions,hearappealsandrequestsforreconsideration
• ALCstaffsupportorganizationalresponsibilitiesandservices
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ALRPressures• MinisterPopham’s2017mandateletterdirection:
“Makesubstantiveprogresson….Revitaliz[ing]theAgriculturalLandReserve(ALR)andtheAgriculturalLandCommission(ALC)”
• Speculationandrampantnon-farmdevelopmentpushingthecostoffarmlandbeyondthereachofcurrentandnewentrantfarmers
• IllegaldumpingpracticesandlackoftoolsforALCoversightimpactingtheproductivecapacityoftheALR
• Needtorecommittoprotectingfarmlandtosupportfarmbusinessacrosstheprovinceandenableasecurefoodsupplyintothefuture
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UpdatingtheLegislativeFramework• RecommendationsoftheMinister’sAdvisoryCommitteewereaccepted
andadvancedbytheProvince
• RecommendationsreflectedmanyofthechallengestheALCandlocalgovernmentswereexperiencinginALRdecision-making
• Threekeypolicyobjectivessetthelegislativeagendaforrevitalization:
Objective1: PreservetheproductivecapacityofALRland
Objective2: EncouragepriorityuseofALRlandforagriculture
Objective3: StrengthenALRandALCadministrationandgovernanceto increasepublicconfidenceandensurelanduseregulationandland usedecisionspreserveagriculturallandandencouragingfarmingandranchingintheALR
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RecentChanges• Feb22,2019threekeyamendmentsaremadeandinforcenow:
1. LimitsonresidentialdevelopmentinALR2. Newrestrictionsandrequirementsestablishedforsoilremovalandfill,and
increasedpenaltiesforillegalfill.3. Reinstateasingle‘zone’toensureconsistentruleswithstrongprotectionsacross
provincialALR
• May30,2019fivekeyamendmentsmade,andwillbeinforcelater:1. ReplacingcurrentALCgovernancemodel2. ALCChairabilitytoorganizecommissionmembersintodecision-makingpanelsby
topic,technicalexpertiseoradministrativeregion3. Decision-makingcriteriaALCmustconsidertoprioritizeprotectionand
enhancementofALRsize,integrityandcontinuity4. Morecomplianceandenforcementcapacityandtools5. ChangingtheexclusionprocesstofosterLGconsiderationaspartofabroader
communitylandplanningprocess. 11
ALREngagementStrategy• MinistryisputtingintoplaceanimprovedprocesstoexplorefuturepolicyasitrelatestoALR:– Track1:TechnicalReviewCommittee• FormalizecommitteetoconsiderALRissues
– Track2:Publicandstakeholderengagement• September19–November15
– Track3:Broadengagement/communication• ImproveinformationavailableonMinistrypolicygoals
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NewPublicEngagement(Sept19toNov15)Askingforpublicinsightandopinionsonhowwecanbest:• SupportfarmersandranchersintheALRtoexpandanddiversifytheirbusinesses;
• Helpneworyoungfarmersbecomeestablishedonthelandandinbusiness;and,
• EnsurethereisflexibilityforresidentialoptionswhileprioritizingagricultureintheALR.
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SixSessionLocations• ThursdaySeptember19–Merville(Courtenay/Comox)• TuesdayOctober1–Delta• WednesdayOctober2–DawsonCreek• ThursdayOctober3–PrinceGeorge• ThursdayOctober10–Kelowna• WednesdayOctober30–Castlegar
https//engage.gov.bc.ca/supportingfarmers
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NextSteps–ALREngagementwithLG’sBill15–Regulationtobringintoforce• Ministrystaffwillengagewithlocalgovernmentsindevelopingmaterials
thatwillsupportthechanges
Explorethedevelopmentofahomeplatepolicyforgovernment’sconsideration:• RecommendationfromtheMinister’sAdvisoryCommittee,whichincludes
consultationandanalysisonhomeplatesitingandsize• BasedontheguidanceintheMinister’sBylawStandards• Earlyengagementwithlocalgovernmentswhohavefarmhomeplate/
residentialfootprintbylawsoccurredintheSpring2019• WillreachouttolocalgovernmentsandFirstNationsgovernmentsto
learnmoreaboutresidentialusesontheALRcurrentlyastheyrelatetotheconceptofaprovincialhomeplate.
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PotentialFutureWorkwithLocalGovernmentsEarlylookatotherpotentialpolicychangesbasedonrecommendations,including:• HowtoaddressfairnessofopportunitiesfordifferentcommoditiesintheALR(e.g.,wineriesandcideriesmayhaveafoodandbeverageservicelounge,whichalsorequiresa“lounge”endorsementtobeaddedtoamanufacturerlicenceissuedundertheLiquorControlandLicensingAct)andthechallengesofthe50%rule
• HowtoaddressexpansiveindustrializationoftheALR(e.g.,largecannabisfacilitiesthatgowellbeyondproduction)andwhattoolscansupportlocalgovernmentsandtheALCinrelateddecision-making
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Questions
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