One of the many problems presented to B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham by angry farmers this week was that the NDP government香蕉视频直播檚 new regulations against dumping fill on farmland have included gravelling driveways to keep them passable in bad weather.
Under fire about elderly people or grown children not allowed to stay on family farms, the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) shutting down non-farm activities including a restaurant and a women香蕉视频直播檚 addiction recovery centre, and other aspects of her overhaul of farm legislation, Popham has made a concession on the gravel issue.
香蕉视频直播淚n rural B.C. there香蕉视频直播檚 often cases where farmers need to add gravel onto their driveways annually, because of weather conditions and climate up in the rural areas, and the driveways are long. So they would need to bring on fill onto their properties, onto their farms, in quite large amounts,香蕉视频直播� Popham told reporters at the legislature this week.
香蕉视频直播淚n our legislation we actually tried to stop dumping of garbage and fill on farmland. That doesn香蕉视频直播檛 work in rural B.C. because it香蕉视频直播檚 an annual process for them. So we are now requiring a letter of intent every time someone brings new soil or fill onto their property.香蕉视频直播�
The latest round of ministry consultations heard about this problem and Popham said she is fixing it, by getting rid of the letter of intent requirement and the fee that goes with it.
香蕉视频直播淲e heard from rural B.C. that this would mean paperwork annually for them, and a fee annually for them. And so while we香蕉视频直播檙e doing our regulations, we香蕉视频直播檙e going to actually change that,香蕉视频直播� Popham said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e going to tweak it, because that was great input, and that香蕉视频直播檚 the great thing about doing the regulations while you香蕉视频直播檙e consulting, because you can hear stuff, and then change it.香蕉视频直播�
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More than 100 rural people descended on the B.C. legislature this week to push back on Popham香蕉视频直播檚 changes, particularly the elimination of 香蕉视频直播渮one two香蕉视频直播� farmland outside the prime farm areas of the Fraser Valley, the Okanagan and Popham香蕉视频直播檚 home turf of southern Vancouver Island.
A major objection is housing restrictions. Popham香蕉视频直播檚 revamped ALC restricts additional housing to farm worker use, and that has created cases where multi-generational farmers can香蕉视频直播檛 provide accommodation for aging parents or young farmers taking over the operation.
AgMin says there is 香蕉视频直播渇lexibility香蕉视频直播� for additional living space on family farms under her new regime
香蕉视频直播� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)
Christine Watts of Loon Lake spoke to the rally, describing her life on a small ranch where her husband has lived for 62 years.
香蕉视频直播淲e looked after, on the farm, both of his parents until just a few days before they passed away, each of them,香蕉视频直播� Watts said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd we were hoping to do the same now as we age. And that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 look like it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be able to be the case, unless my son lives in our basement.香蕉视频直播�
Popham said some of the protesters are farmers, but others are living on agricultural land but not farming. She said there is a procedure with the new ALC, centralized in Burnaby as part of the overhaul, to review additional home applications.
香蕉视频直播淵ou can put an application into the Agricultural Land Commission, and you can have a non-adhering permit, so you can apply to have an additional home,香蕉视频直播� Popham said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut of course the ALC uses the agricultural lens when they香蕉视频直播檙e approving that.香蕉视频直播�
Popham also cited the example of house size restrictions aimed at preventing 香蕉视频直播渕ega-mansions香蕉视频直播� from being build on protected farmland. Big homes are popular with berry farming families in the Lower Mainland, so regulations were adapted to fit that need, she said.
On the Fraser Valley Gleaners recovery centre for women in an Abbotsford farmhouse, Popham was unmoved.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 an Agricultural Land Commission decision,香蕉视频直播� Popham said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey are an independent tribunal, and so I can香蕉视频直播檛 interfere with any decision that they do. But they香蕉视频直播檙e also very reasonable, and so two years is quite a bit of time to find a new accommodation.香蕉视频直播�
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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