One of the many problems presented to B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham by angry farmers this week was that the NDP government91裸聊视频檚 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 women91裸聊视频檚 addiction recovery centre, and other aspects of her overhaul of farm legislation, Popham has made a concession on the gravel issue.
91裸聊视频淚n rural B.C. there91裸聊视频檚 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,91裸聊视频� Popham told reporters at the legislature this week.
91裸聊视频淚n our legislation we actually tried to stop dumping of garbage and fill on farmland. That doesn91裸聊视频檛 work in rural B.C. because it91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淲e heard from rural B.C. that this would mean paperwork annually for them, and a fee annually for them. And so while we91裸聊视频檙e doing our regulations, we91裸聊视频檙e going to actually change that,91裸聊视频� Popham said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e going to tweak it, because that was great input, and that91裸聊视频檚 the great thing about doing the regulations while you91裸聊视频檙e consulting, because you can hear stuff, and then change it.91裸聊视频�
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More than 100 rural people descended on the B.C. legislature this week to push back on Popham91裸聊视频檚 changes, particularly the elimination of 91裸聊视频渮one two91裸聊视频� farmland outside the prime farm areas of the Fraser Valley, the Okanagan and Popham91裸聊视频檚 home turf of southern Vancouver Island.
A major objection is housing restrictions. Popham91裸聊视频檚 revamped ALC restricts additional housing to farm worker use, and that has created cases where multi-generational farmers can91裸聊视频檛 provide accommodation for aging parents or young farmers taking over the operation.
AgMin says there is 91裸聊视频渇lexibility91裸聊视频� for additional living space on family farms under her new regime
91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淲e looked after, on the farm, both of his parents until just a few days before they passed away, each of them,91裸聊视频� Watts said. 91裸聊视频淎nd we were hoping to do the same now as we age. And that doesn91裸聊视频檛 look like it91裸聊视频檚 going to be able to be the case, unless my son lives in our basement.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淵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,91裸聊视频� Popham said. 91裸聊视频淏ut of course the ALC uses the agricultural lens when they91裸聊视频檙e approving that.91裸聊视频�
Popham also cited the example of house size restrictions aimed at preventing 91裸聊视频渕ega-mansions91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an Agricultural Land Commission decision,91裸聊视频� Popham said. 91裸聊视频淭hey are an independent tribunal, and so I can91裸聊视频檛 interfere with any decision that they do. But they91裸聊视频檙e also very reasonable, and so two years is quite a bit of time to find a new accommodation.91裸聊视频�
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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