The B.C. government91裸聊视频檚 latest changes to protect agricultural land include a provision to redefine 91裸聊视频減erson91裸聊视频� 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 didn91裸聊视频檛 believe what he was hearing at first, as Popham introduced the sweeping changes designed to roll back the previous government91裸聊视频檚 changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve.

A key change is that only the province, local governments or 91裸聊视频渁 prescribed public body91裸聊视频� can apply to the newly reorganized ALC for an exclusion of farmland.

Mike de Jong says is an odd time for to declare farmers aren91裸聊视频檛 91裸聊视频減ersons91裸聊视频�.

91裸聊视频� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)

The redefinition of 91裸聊视频減erson91裸聊视频� in is 91裸聊视频渢he single most egregious assault on the rights of citizens that I have seen in 25 years,91裸聊视频� de Jong said in an interview with Black Press.

91裸聊视频淭his is the government saying to tens of thousands of property owners, 91裸聊视频榳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 government91裸聊视频�,91裸聊视频� de Jong said. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 absurd. That is as egregious a violation of the rights of a citizen as I91裸聊视频檝e seen, to deny them even the right to ask.91裸聊视频�

He noted that the decision to exclude farmers from application by declaring them not 91裸聊视频減ersons91裸聊视频� is interesting timing, on the eve of the 90th anniversary of that women are 91裸聊视频減ersons91裸聊视频� and can vote. That case is the centre of International Women91裸聊视频檚 Day in Canada, after a group of Alberta women now known as 91裸聊视频渢he famous five91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淥ver the last few years, we91裸聊视频檝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,91裸聊视频� Popham said. 91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�

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 owner91裸聊视频檚 path. The local government can submit an application 91裸聊视频渋f they want,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚f they91裸聊视频檙e not too busy. When they get around to it. There91裸聊视频檚 no incentive.91裸聊视频�

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The amendments also reorganize the commission, 91裸聊视频渁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,91裸聊视频� Popham told the legislature Thursday.

Bill 15, to be debated as early as next week, is the second stage of Popham91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淎nother attack on rural B.C. and landowners,91裸聊视频� Bernier said. 91裸聊视频淲hy do the B.C. NDP always think Big Brother knows better than the people who actually own and work the land?91裸聊视频�

The amendments also eliminate the ALC91裸聊视频檚 six regional panels and executive committee, creating a single commission with regional representation on it. Popham said that change will 91裸聊视频渟trengthen the independence of the commission.91裸聊视频�

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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