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News – Ag minister under fire in ALC process
If you’re following the discussion over a leaked cabinet document that proposed massive changes to the Agricultural Land Commission, you’re going to want to read the next chapter. CP is reporting B.C....
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Petition –“Hands off” B.C.’s ALC
An IntegrityBC petition asking the provincial government to back away from plans to change the Agricultural Land Commission has almost 1,900 signatures this morning. The group is also demanding Ag...
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Letter of the Week: Farmland deserves protection
It has been reported that B.C.’s Agricultural Land Commission is eyed for breakup. I sincerely hope this is not true. Why at a time when many British Columbians are clamouring for food security,...
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News – Marijuana: Farm product or pharmaceutical?
As new federal government regulations on medical pot production loom, many farmers are wondering if marijuana will soon be a common crop on ALR land. Several municipalities – Chilliwack and Langley...
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News –“Pat Pimm has united us all”
Great story in the Globe and Mail today about the continuing fallout from a leaked cabinet document proposing a reduction of ALC powers, tabled by none other than B.C. agriculture minister Pat Pimm. In...
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News – Ag announcement this morning
A major government agriculture announcement is planned for this morning. The embattled B.C. ag minister isn’t scheduled to speak (although the news release comes from the provincial agriculture...
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Feature – Take a tour of a medical marijuana grow-op
I was invited to visit a cutting-edge medical marijuana facility in Maple Ridge last week and gladly accepted the offer. Here is a story on what I saw. Maple Ridge is preparing a bylaw to allow medical...
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News – Barn fire destroys medical marijuana grow-op in Abbotsford
A huge barn fire destroyed a medical marijuana grow-op in Abbotsford Sunday night. Here’s a link to a VIDEO and story. I wonder if this grow-op will be rebuilt, given that Abbotsford council is...
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Farm photo of the week (Jan. 5, 2014) – Barn goes up in smoke
Here’s a story on the fire that destroyed this Abbotsford barn and the grow-op inside. The question of whether or not legal grow-ops should be allowed on farmland will continue to be a hot issue in...
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News – Council wants second houses allowed on ALR land
The Township of Spallumcheen (a North Okanagan town with the slogan “Where Farming Comes First) is planning to bring a resolution to the Union of B.C. Municipalities asking the local government...
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Shane Simpson: Liberal mismanagement is B.C.’s bigger fiscal problem
The B.C. Liberals like to say they’re good with money. They said it on the side of their campaign bus and they have spent millions on taxpayer-funded ads that repeat that message. They have also...
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Changes to ALR and ALC to be announced this morning
The B.C. government is expected to announce changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve this morning, releasing the results of its long-anticipated “core review” of how the system operates. Early buzz...
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Breaking News – Changes to ALR could see more business on farmland
Changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve could result in more agribusiness on farmland across the province, while opening the door to non-farm businesses on farmland in the Interior, Kootenay and North...
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Interview – ALR changes help farmers, harm food security
The mixed reaction to recently-announced changes to B.C.’s ALR is reflected in the headlines about the decision (for example: ALC changes leave Fraser Valley untouched, Is the sky falling on BC’s...
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News – Mixed reaction greets amendments to Bill 24
Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick revealed the results of his brief, province-wide Agriculture Land Reserve (ALR) consultation by announcing formal amendments to Bill 24 late Tuesday afternoon. British...
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News – Legal grow-ops an acceptable use of farm land, says B.C.
The Township of Langley’s bid to keep medical marijuana grow operations off of agricultural land has been denied by the provincial government. According to a news release, Township Mayor Jack Froese...
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Have your say on the ALR – Online government survey on farmland changes...
As promised, the B.C. government is seeking public input on changes to the ALR. (For more on what’s being proposed in Bill 24, click here.) The province’s online survey is open for one month – from...
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