The B.C. government香蕉视频直播檚 latest changes to protect agricultural land include a provision to redefine 香蕉视频直播減erson香蕉视频直播� as a local or provincial government.
Amendments to provincial law presented by Agriculture Minister Lana Popham this week mean that farmers can no longer apply directly to the Agricultural Land Commission for any exclusion of land from the reserve.
B.C. Liberal MLA Mike de Jong, a farmer, lawyer and MLA since 1994, said he didn香蕉视频直播檛 believe what he was hearing at first, as Popham introduced the sweeping changes designed to roll back the previous government香蕉视频直播檚 changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve.
A key change is that only the province, local governments or 香蕉视频直播渁 prescribed public body香蕉视频直播� can apply to the newly reorganized ALC for an exclusion of farmland.
Mike de Jong says is an odd time for to declare farmers aren香蕉视频直播檛 香蕉视频直播減ersons香蕉视频直播�.
香蕉视频直播� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)
The redefinition of 香蕉视频直播減erson香蕉视频直播� in is 香蕉视频直播渢he single most egregious assault on the rights of citizens that I have seen in 25 years,香蕉视频直播� de Jong said in an interview with Black Press.
香蕉视频直播淭his is the government saying to tens of thousands of property owners, 香蕉视频直播榳e now believe the ALR is perfect, there will never be any changes, and the only agency that can ever decide to initiate a request is government香蕉视频直播�,香蕉视频直播� de Jong said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 absurd. That is as egregious a violation of the rights of a citizen as I香蕉视频直播檝e seen, to deny them even the right to ask.香蕉视频直播�
He noted that the decision to exclude farmers from application by declaring them not 香蕉视频直播減ersons香蕉视频直播� is interesting timing, on the eve of the 90th anniversary of that women are 香蕉视频直播減ersons香蕉视频直播� and can vote. That case is the centre of International Women香蕉视频直播檚 Day in Canada, after a group of Alberta women now known as 香蕉视频直播渢he famous five香蕉视频直播� won the right to vote in 1929.
ALR regulations already require local governments to approve applications to remove farmland from within their boundaries.
Popham issued a statement Friday defending the change.
香蕉视频直播淥ver the last few years, we香蕉视频直播檝e seen people buying land in the ALR, only to turn around and immediately apply to get it pulled out of the ALR so they can develop it,香蕉视频直播� Popham said. 香蕉视频直播淭his volume of applications to review has become burdensome to both local governments and the ALC, particularly since in many cases exclusions are not approved as they are for development purposes.香蕉视频直播�
The ALC website has archived decisions, but the latest year shown is 2016. For the Vancouver Island zone, there were nine exclusion applications in 2016, including one from the Sooke Community Association, approved by the District of Sooke, to install an artificial turf playing field.
De Jong said the change puts an additional obstacle in the property owner香蕉视频直播檚 path. The local government can submit an application 香蕉视频直播渋f they want,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚f they香蕉视频直播檙e not too busy. When they get around to it. There香蕉视频直播檚 no incentive.香蕉视频直播�
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The amendments also reorganize the commission, 香蕉视频直播渁dding more compliance and enforcement capacity and tools, including a new offence for landowners who do not produce records when the Agricultural Land Commission orders,香蕉视频直播� Popham told the legislature Thursday.
Bill 15, to be debated as early as next week, is the second stage of Popham香蕉视频直播檚 reorganization of the ALC and its rules to reverse changes made by the previous B.C. Liberal government.
The legislation drew a quick response from Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier, who has argued that secondary uses keep farm operations viable in winter in his region.
香蕉视频直播淎nother attack on rural B.C. and landowners,香蕉视频直播� Bernier said. 香蕉视频直播淲hy do the B.C. NDP always think Big Brother knows better than the people who actually own and work the land?香蕉视频直播�
The amendments also eliminate the ALC香蕉视频直播檚 six regional panels and executive committee, creating a single commission with regional representation on it. Popham said that change will 香蕉视频直播渟trengthen the independence of the commission.香蕉视频直播�
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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