a revitalized legislative framework for the agricultural ... · a revitalized legislative framework...

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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